West Ham legend Tony Cottee helped deliver gifts to Southend Hospital’s Neptune Ward.
Mr Cottee is patron of the charity Clowns in the Sky, which is dedicated to the welfare of children with brain tumours.
He said: “I’ve been patron of Clowns in the Sky for the last six years. I like to get to Southend Hospital at least once a year. It’s lovely to be here and put a smile on kids’ faces.”
Some youngsters were West Ham fans, such as Victoria Rosebox, 17, from Southend, who was wearing her Hammers’ top.
Money for the gifts was raised by George Mann and the members of the First Essex High 12 Club at Southend. Mr Mann said: “I was so impressed by work they do that I wanted to help raise money for them and that is what we’ve done, £432 in total.”
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