A footballer visited a Christmas party for children with mental disabilities.

The party was held in Watford FC’s Elton John suite and the children from Mencap received a visit from Watford player Adrian Mariappa on Wednesday.

Mencap is a charity that supports children with disabilities and their family’s.

Santa also himself visited the children, handing out presents that were donated during intu’s Give A Gift Campaign.

So far, 1,400 gifts have been donated to intu’s campaign.

Vicki Costello, general manager at intu Watford said: “We have enjoyed such an incredible year with the redevelopment, so it’s only right that we give back to the community where we can.

“It was wonderful to see so many people happy and smiling, and to know that we had made the Mencap party possible.

“It is a brilliant charity that needs and deserves support.”

Mencap supports children and their families whose lives are affected by learning disabilities.

intu Watford hosted the party to help put smiles on the faces of the children at Mencap and earlier this month, intu opened Santa’s grotto free of charge for Mencap and local family support service Home-Start.