BIG-HEARTED Rangers stars spread festive cheer to sick children on a visit to a Glasgow hospital.

Rangers Manager Mark Warburton and the first-team squad stopped by the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow yesterday for their annual Christmas visit.

Warburton team captain Lee Wallace presented a cheque for £10,000 to Yorkhill Children’s Charity on behalf of the Rangers Charity Foundation.

This will pay for a Christmas party for the children as well as toys and games for the wards, activities throughout the year and outdoor play equipment.

The players then spent the afternoon visiting all of the wards in the hospital.

Rangers Captain Lee Wallace said: “It was great to visit the new hospital today and meet the children.

"It’s a very difficult time of year to be in hospital but I know the kids get a huge lift from these visits.

"The Rangers Charity Foundation does fantastic work and helps thousands of people each year and I am sure Yorkhill Children’s Charity will be delighted to receive the £10,000 donation from the Foundation that will really help to make the new hospital as fun a place to be as possible for the kids.

"On behalf of everyone at Rangers Football Club, I hope the children and their families have a very Merry Christmas.”

Connal Cochrane, director of the Rangers Charity Foundation said: “It’s been great to develop our long-standing relationship with Yorkhill Children’s Charity this year by making the charity an official partner and donating £10,000.

“The money will really help to add those special extras to the environment in the new hospital which makes a huge difference to the kids who have to be there, especially at a time like Christmas."

Kirsten Sinclair, director of Fundraising at Yorkhill Children’s Charity, said: “The Rangers Charity Foundation’s longstanding support and generosity has been incredible. For years the players at Rangers FC have helped to make Christmas extra special for our young patients and their families at the hospital.

"It’s visits like this that help the children to have the best possible experience during what can be a very difficult time."

The visit was part of the club and foundation’s Christmas activities in the community which will see a host of local organisations benefit from

donations, including the Glasgow South West Food Bank, Glasgow Cares Toy Bank, Govan Salvation Army, Alzheimer Scotland’s dementia cafes in Glasgow and Social Bite’s initiative to provide Christmas meals for the homeless.