It may still be six months until the expansion of the New Victoria Hospital is complete, but a group of schoolkids have made sure it brightens the area in the meantime.

The hospital's building contractors, Collins, recently invited children from Coombe Hill Junior School to improve the hoardings around the development with some colourful pictures.

A Spokesman for Collins said it was wonderful to see the kids really get into their drawings.

"The children all really engaged in the project and this week they came along to the hospital to see all of their colourful work on show," he said.

"The displays were further enhanced by planted flower boxes and bird boxes donated by Collins."

The contractors have said that the expansion is "moving ahead" and "on track" for completion by spring 2019, when a new outpatient department and reception with 12 consulting rooms and a new physiotherapy department will be opened.