Ace way to cheer up kids.

Children facing the bleak prospect of spending Christmas in hospital were cheered by visiting Boro football heroes bearing treats.

Jonathan Woodgate, Stewart Downing, George Boateng and Mark Viduka were among the stars joining club mascot Roary the Lion to hand out selection boxes and small toys in what has become a Boro tradition.

The gifts were donated by Boro supporters as part of Roary's Christmas Appeal.

Club sponsors 888.com and the football club itself kicked off the appeal by donating selection boxes and other gifts.

They were given out by members of the Boro first team squad around the children's wards of Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital and Stockton's University Hospital of North Tees.

The players also called into Butterwick Children's Hospice in Stockton.

Club captain George Boateng said: "The club has been making these visits for many years now and the players always look forward to it. It's an excellent chance for us to put something back into the community and cheer up the kids.

"It's hard enough for the children to spend time in hospital at any time of the year, but it's very tough on them at Christmas."

He added: "The club is very active in the community but the players look forward to this visit more than any other. It's a day when we feel we could really make a difference.

"We're very grateful that many of our fans have been so generous in donating gifts."