CITY footballers spread some Christmas cheer with a special visit to Worcestershire Royal Hospital’s children’s ward.

Generous staff and players from Worcester Raiders dropped in with gifts and presents for the children in the run up to Christmas.

Club manager, Karl Gormley, 40, said: “We did the same thing last year and really enjoyed it so thought we would do it again.

“This year we have been much more organised and managed to get together lots of presents for the children. We are a Worcester team, most of us grew up here, including myself, so we like to be able to give something back to local charities.

“The visit was lovely, we all went round the wards to meet the children and their parents. The kids loved it. It is not very nice for them to be in hospital, especially at Christmas time, so it was good to be able to make them happy even if only for a short while.”

“We brought in tea and coffee and biscuits for the nurses, they work so hard and deserve a little something. One of the parents stopped me before we left and said my little girl has been upset for three days, seeing you and getting her teddy and toy made her smile for the first time in ages. It is hearing things like that that make it all worthwhile.”

Worcester Raiders Football Club players, supporters and staff delivered the presents on Saturday to the Riverbank ward at the hospital.

Supporter, Mathew Taylor, tweeted: “Amazing gesture again from the Raiders giving out gifts at the hospital. So many positive things like this happen behind the scenes that often go unnoticed. Well done, lads.”