Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle United players visited local hospitals on Tuesday to spread some Christmas cheer to poorly children in the region.

The team visited Royal Victoria Infirmary, the Freeman Hospital and the Northumbria Hospital, where they met youngsters and their parents as well as handing out gifts, signing autographs and posing for photographs.

And they were joined by Serena Taylor, who brought nufc.co.uk these heartwarming images.