A woman called on her colleagues to help raise money for a hospital that cared for her friend’s teenage son after he was hit by a car.

Debbie Olive, who works at UK Power Networks, in Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, asked her fellow employees to collect toys for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.

The son of a family friend, Billy Mascot, 14, is lucky to be alive after suffering head injuries when he was hit by a car just metres from his home in Hoddesdon last month.

The care he received at Great Ormond Street helped save his life and Ms Olive decided to do something to help.

She said: “It is a miracle he is alive. I went to visit him at Great Ormond Street and saw all the other children there and I cried all the way home.

“I just wanted to be able to help and give something back. They saved his life.”

Four weeks after the accident on January 7, Billy is still very tired but is determined to get back to normal.

He is starting to go out again and is managing to spend a couple of hours a day at school.

Ms Mascot and Billy’s mother, Kirsty, will be donating the toys tomorrow.

Connie Dickie, communications and engagement lead for the connections department at UK Power Networks, organised the toy collection.

She said: “When we heard about it, we just wanted to do something to help. The hospital is always needing toys and stuff to entertain the children.

“The response to this has been fantastic. People have bought stuff from new as the hospital can’t take second-hand donations because of germs.

“They have been bringing stuff in over the last couple of weeks. First we just had one box and that got full, and then another box. It’s been really exciting and one of the quickest responses we’ve ever had from employees.”