SPECIALIST cops from Scotland Yard’s Royal Protection squad swooped on a children’s hospice in East London today (Monday)—bearing enough toys to fill a police van! A Royal Protection police van with five motorcycles drove directly from Buckingham Palace to Richard House hospice to present the children with a mountain of toys and cash donated by the Met’s Royal and Diplomatic units

SPECIALIST cops from Scotland Yard’s Royal Protection squad swooped on a children’s hospice in East London today (Monday)—bearing enough toys to fill a police van!

A Royal Protection police van with five motorcycles drove directly from Buckingham Palace to Richard House hospice in Beckton to present the children with a mountain of toys and a cheque for £1,546 donated by the Met’s Royal and Diplomatic units.

The Royal cops raised the cash through raffles, while the toys were donated personally. The money raised is going towards days out for the children currently staying there.

“But we can’t give the toys to the children due to health and safety restrictions,” Richard House fundraising manager Viv Talbot explained.

“The toys are welcome in our charity shops, however, where all proceeds go directly towards the hospice.”

Donations help towards the £1.8 million in voluntary funds needed to keep the hospice going every year for the children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses. Most are not expected to live until adulthood.

The hospice services are free and provide vital care to 150 children and their families every year in a catchment area across East London, as well as North, Central and South East London and Essex.

Donations can be pledged by phone on 020-7511 0222, or online on the Richard House website.