Among those to meet the present day Florence Nightingales last Friday were pupils at Coulsdon Primary School in Bradmore Green, Old Coulsdon.

The nurses from Mayday Hospital told the children what life is really like on the wards.

Children even got to test out some of the equipment usually only seen on TV dramas.

On show was a pulse oximeter to measure oxygen and the heart rate, a peak flow meter to test the current of air leaving the lungs, a stethoscope and an electronic thermometer.

Friday's events were mirrored in other schools across the country on what was Nurses' Day - held on Florence Nightingale's birthday.

Senior Mayday nurse, Eddy Williams, said: "We know from research that children as young as 10 already have very fixed views of nursing. We want to help them understand modern day nursing and how to get the most out of the health service as they grow up."