FAMILIES were out in force to support a vital Southampton service - and have fun.

The family fun day at Test Park in Millbrook saw dozens of stalls, performers and entertainments all there to raise money for the PICU unit at Southampton hospital.

As reported, the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Coxford Road hospital provides care and treatment to more than 900 critically ill children every year from all over the south of England and the Channel Islands.

Organiser Chris Blake said: “I’m an ambassador for PICU and it’s one of those things - I wanted to do it, and it’s fun. It’s just what I do.

“I’ve got all the equipment so I thought why not. We are raising as much money as we can for the Friends of PICU.

“They need it and they always will. So we just said we’ll step up and do it.”

Children from as far away as Plymouth and Milton Keynes are referred to the purpose-built PICU unit, which has 14 beds and cares for children aged up to 18.

The NHS says it is the sixth largest of its type in the UK and has one of the best survival rates.

It is actively involved in research and works alongside Southampton University.