Huge smiles were painted on sick children's faces as Norwich City footballers paid a festive visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.Canaries players Michael Spillane, Luke Daley and Owain Tudur Jones dropped in to spend some time with children in the Jenny Lind Unit.

Huge smiles were painted on sick children's faces as Norwich City footballers paid a festive visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Canaries players Michael Spillane, Luke Daley and Owain Tudur Jones dropped in to spend some time with children in the Jenny Lind Unit.

The trio, who bought along goodie bags with signed photographs, a Canaries backpack, a match programme and stationery, were visiting as part of a festive programme this week for the club.

One excited youngster was eight-year-old Olivia Lipscombe who has been on chemotherapy for six years and is battling a brain tumour.

Her mum Emma Lipscombe, 37, from Attleborough, said: “It is a really nice idea the footballers coming here. Olivia is losing her sight so it is great for her to have some interaction like this right now and something she will remember. My 12-year-old son George is a football fan so will probably be quite jealous he was not here today!”

Team mates of the visitors have also visited the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston this week and altogether 100 goodie bags have been handed out to excited children.

Mr Tudur Jones, 25, a centre midfielder for the Canaries, said: “I feel really privileged to be here today. These children are very brave and it is so lovely to be able to put a smile on their faces. Some of them are so poorly but they manage to keep on laughing and smiling and really are inspirational.”

Andrew Stronach, spokesman for the N&N, said: “As always we welcome a visit from the footballers to the hospital. The kids love it and so do their parents. We are grateful to them for coming and hope they come back next year because it is a really nice experience for the kids just before Christmas.”