'Huge thank you to thousands of NHS staff working in Leeds this Christmas'

And a group of soldiers based in Afghanistan - who are spending festive season protecting our country - have shown their support for Leeds United in a Christmas post.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has produced a video aimed at staff working during the festive period.

Dr Yvette Oade, chief medical officer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: "Thousands of our staff will be working in our hospitals and health facilities at some point over Christmas and the New Year, every day going above and beyond to care for their patients.

“We want to thank them for all the hard work they do – particularly at this time of the year when they sacrifice their own time with their families to look after their patients.

“The NHS runs around the clock – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – and our services continue to be very busy.

"We really do appreciate the commitment from our teams to provide continued support to keep our patients cared for and safe throughout the year.”

Julian Hartley, chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said on the video: "I'm here in Leeds Children's Hospital with all these fantastic gifts that are going to get gift wrapped and given out to children by our staff on Christmas Day.

"I want to say a huge thank you to all of you to all of you who are going to be working on Christmas Day.

NKC company one, the second battalion Yorkshire regiment, were deployed to Afghanistan in November this year.

Lewis Thickett said the group are providing rapid response force for advisers to the government in Kabul.

The battalion took to social media to show their support for Leeds United at Christmas.

The post has since gone viral, with thousands of fans resonating the support.

Lewis said: "Merry Christmas from me and all the lads over here, all have a good Christmas and we will be back for the last few games hopefully."

Many fans wished the group a happy Christmas - with the battalion being described as 'true heroes'.