IT'S the new toy craze that is bringing a smile to the faces of York children on the city hospital's wards, caf's and corridors.

At the Women's Royal Voluntary Service retail outlet at York Hospital, demand has been so great for the soft, purple giggleberries that volunteer staff are eagerly awaiting further deliveries.

People can buy the toys, which laugh when you squeeze them, for £1 if they also buy a carton of Ribena at the shop.

The berry-shaped toys, with a face on the front and little antennae sticking out of the top, have captured the imagination at York Hospital, where 800 have been sold in the past few weeks.

They have been adopted by nurses and children, with hundreds appearing across the dozens of wards at the hospital.

The toy deal was originally a limited edition offer for the charity's shops. But chiefs say the giggleberries have proved so popular that it was been extended for another month.

Val Ghrist, the WRVS project manager at York, said: "They have gone down really well with hospital staff, visitors and patients.

"Lots of them have appeared on wards and nurses have been taking them round. They have really cheered up hospital stays for many people."

WRVS nationally works with more than 270 NHS trusts, with more than 23,500 volunteers giving their time to hospitals by working in shops, cafes, trolley rounds and patient support.

Its work in hospitals provides valuable support for patients, visitors and staff as well as raising funds for both the hospitals and WRVS's wider charity work.

The charity has sold 25,000 of the giggleberries across its 43 shops in only four weeks.

Gavin Tennent, the WRVS merchandising manager, said: "They have been flying off the shelves and lots of our retail outlets have requested resupplies.

"Originally, the offer was due to end on October 24, but we have extended it another month because of demand."

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, November 03, 2004