Scottish Olympians have visited a children's hospital and brought big smiles to the young patients' faces.

Gold medal canoeist Tim Baillie and silver sailing winner Luke Patience posed for pictures, signed autographs and showed their medals to excited fans as they toured Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow.

They were accompanied by gold medal rowing Paralympian David Smith and modern pentathlon competitor Mhairi Spence.

The Yorkhill Children's Foundation arranged the visit after the London 2012 Games proved such a hit among the children, many of whom are being cared for long term.

Mathew Moir, 14, from Edinburgh said: "It's really inspiring and its quite emotional as well, hearing their life stories and how they got to the Olympics and Paralympics and what they did to get there.

"It was great – I spoke to them and asked them a few questions."

The Hibernian fan, who is being treated for gastric problems, said: "They said that if you've got a particular sport you've just got to work hard, train hard, eat well and just focus."

Catherine Leask, 42, from Dumfries, said the visit had given her nine-year-old son Sam a real boost. Sam has a renal illness and has to have regular kidney dialysis.

Mrs Leask said: "He did a project on the Olympics at school so it was great to get to see him getting to meet some of the athletes and hold their medals."

The visit was organised by the foundation to mark the start of its fundraiser Yorkhill Week on Saturday.

Director of fundraising David Welch said: "The idea to get some of the Olympians here came when the Games were on and the kids were captivated. We hoped the visit would put a smile on their faces and that's just what we've achieved.

"It was the most successful visit we've ever had – it's just brilliant. The kids haven't stopped talking about it.

"They have undoubtedly inspired many more children today and it's a brilliant start to Yorkhill Week."

Baillie said: "It's nice to feel like coming in has made a difference to them and hopefully keep their morale up for whatever they are going through."