BOLTON Wanderers’ stars took some time out of their busy festive schedule to spread a bit of festive joy.

Whites players spent this afternoon visiting poorly children at Royal Bolton Hospital, fans at Bolton Hospice and youngsters at Derian House Children’s Hospice.

Striker, Gary Madine went shopping with more than £1,000 of his own cash at Smiths, Boots and Asda to make sure there were plenty of presents to go round for the children. He spent two hours at the Middlebrook stores picking out the gifts.

Squad members including captain Darren Pratley, goal machine Gary  and winger Sammy Ameobi then headed on to the ward, along with Lofty the Lion, to meet some of the youngsters and spread some festive cheer.

Excited youngsters got the chance to pose for pictures with their Wanderers heroes before getting their hands on a gift.

Speaking about the visit, Pratley said: “We just came down to give them some presents.

“It is good to give back to the community a little bit. We just wanted to try and put a smile on their faces.”

David Wheater even took the time to look through one young fan’s football album with him.

Ayaan Malek, aged seven, also enjoyed meeting the players.

His dad, Sal Malek, said: “He is buzzing. He is really happy. He really is Bolton Wanderers mad.”

Seven-year-old old Jessica Warren was excited to show the players her Manchester United shirt before she posed for a picture with the players and received her present.

Mum, Rachel Wardle said: “She just wanted to show them her shirt. It’s nice because she has come in and all the footballers are here.”

Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick was also visiting the children.

He said: “There are a lot of kids in hospital at Christmas, it is just our way of coming down and trying to put a smile on their faces.

“It is one of the things we all enjoy doing. It is always worthwhile doing it and it is a great cause.

“For us it is a chance to give a bit back. We have got a lot of girls and boys who are Bolton fans. It is priceless for us.”

All the children got a chance to get a present from the players, from babies to the older children.

Presents were even left for children who were in surgery when the players came to visit.

It is not just the children who enjoy the visit and the staff also took the chance to pose for pictures with the players.

Hospital play co-ordinator, Lydia Hill, said: “They have been coming in to see us for a number of years now.

“It is a real treat, not just for children but the staff. They support us through the year. It just improves the mood. It is tough being in hospital at Christmas but we try and make it as pleasant as we can.”

Wanderers players also paid a visit to Bolton Hospice to make Christmas a little more jolly for some of the patients.

Footballers arrived at the Church Street facility at about 2pm and spoke to some of the elderly patients and handed them gifts donated by the club.

They also took time out to sign autographs and pose for pictures with both the staff and the residents.

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Karl Henry said: “It is something that all clubs do. I think it comes from players wanting to be close to the community and going along and seeing people in hospices and hospitals.

“At Christmas time it is something that clubs do and it is something that is really important.

“One thing I have learned since I have been here is that Bolton do a huge amount with the community.

“I think it is absolutely brilliant and it is grounding for us as players.

“It is certainly not a chore for us and I think it is something every player should do and every club do.

“It is nice for us to see a few smiles when we have been and to cheer up everyone who is in a difficult situation.”

Paul Holliday, head of marketing at Bolton Wanderers, said: “This is just something the club likes to do at the time of year.

“We visit places like Bolton Hospice and we want to give something to the people at Christmas.

“It is a way of giving back to the community and the players absolutely love coming down here.”

Felicity Ransom, marketing manager at Bolton Hospice, said it was nice for her and the staff to see the smiles on the residents’ faces.

She said: “It is a really exciting day for the patients at this time of year.

“Obviously Christmas is a really important time of giving and of giving back to the community.”

One of the patients who got to meet some of the players was Karen Skelly, who has been at the hospice for about two months.

The 57-year-old said: “It is so nice seeing the guys from BWFC and, while some of them are not players I have heard of, it is nice to see them get out and about.

“Some of them are so young so it is also a great experience for them to come here.

“For us it is a touch of normality. It seems to make everything more normal for us at a time when we would obviously rather be at home.

“And I got a present as well, so of course I am very happy.”

Some of the staff nurses and therapists watched as the players mingled with people in the living area.

And many of theme even donned their Christmas hats for the occasion.

Barbara McCavery, senior staff nurse, said: “It is good to see the players take the time out to come here.

“Them being here makes us all happy.”