A SELFLESS family came to the rescue after a children's hospice lost its water supply just days before Christmas.

The Whitelegg family, of Horn Lane in Woodford Green, gave up more than three hours of their time driving to and from Haven House hospice, after workmen were unable to fix a burst water main.

Mum Rachel, 37, husband Peter, 41, daughter Emma – who was celebrating her tenth birthday – and son Robert, 8, delivered clean water and laundry on Sunday morning (December 19).

Marking director Julia Jones said: “Despite efforts to repair a broken mains pipe on Friday, the hospice was left with a problem.

“With the bad weather conditions on Saturday access to the hospice was severely affected and nursing staff were at a loss to know what to do.

“Rachel and Pete Whitelegg were able to use their Land Rover to bring in water supplies. Children Emma and Robert helped out too.

“They sterilised the containers they use for camping, filled them with cold water, loaded up the Land Rover and delivered them to Haven House.

“They went to Waitrose and bought bottled water for the hospice too.”

Mrs Whitelegg said: “I got a call from Eunice Sparks, whose husband Ian runs the hospice, at about 9:30 on Sunday morning.

“We've known the family for a long time, their daughter Claire and I have been friends since the age of four.

“Our daughter Emma had already had her party the night before so she didn't mind spending her birthday doing that one bit.”

Mrs Whitelegg said her family were happy to help the charity because of how important it is to seriously ill children.

She said: “They do such fantastic work there. Everyone speaks so highly of the care the children get and the brilliant service the hospice provides.”

Ms Jones added: “We are indebted to the Whitelegg family for their invaluable help during our water shortage.

“Without their generous help and support we would have had no water at all and would have been forced to close the hospice.”