BARROW AFC manager Pete Wild and club mascot Bluey the Bluebird made a special visit to Furness General Hospital.

The Bluebirds duo visited patients at the hospital’s children’s ward to spread some festive cheer.

They handed out some special Christmas gifts to the young patients.

Speaking about the visit, Pete Wild, said: “As the father of a young child, I can’t imagine what some of these parents are going through.

“It was great to put some smiles on the kids’ faces and hand some presents out.

“Bluey did a fantastic job of that, because the kids know Bluey, they have no idea who I am.

“It was great to see them smiling, and to be able to talk to some of the parents, because like I say I can’t imagine what they are going through at the moment.

“To see how tired some of those parents looked, to see their children smile even for five minutes must have been a little bit of light relief for them.

“I think that’s the least we can do as a football club.

“For me if we can go up there, if we can help in any way or we can put a smile on a couple of children’s faces then it is all worth it.”

Wild is well aware of the need for the football club to have strong links with the community.

And the Barrow AFC boss is keen for the Bluebirds to do more to help, and to give something back.

“It’s great for us to be able to do that (visit the children’s ward) and to give something back to the community,” he added.

“The more we can do with the hospital and with the children’s ward the better.

“I had a good chat with the hospital boss while we were there and hopefully that is start of a really good relationship with them.”