Getting a plaster cast fitted after breaking a bone can be a scary procedure, especially for the very youngest patients.

Orthopaedic technician Helen Jackson has noticed a little trick that can bring the sparkle back to kids who have experienced the ordeal of breaking a bone.

She said: “We used to get a lot of people looking to have a brightly-coloured bandage over their cast.

“We even had one gentleman who asked for a bright pink bandage so his full leg cast would stand out in the crowd!

“But the trend seems to have changed recently, and we now see more than 50 per cent of patients asking for glitter to be sprinkled on their wet plaster.

“The NHS does not fund the use of the glitter, and as it is not a priority, we buy the glitter ourselves.”