Premier League footballer Bernd Leno has brought plenty of festive cheer to a nine-year-old supporter undergoing chemotherapy.

The Arsenal goalkeeper carried out a surprise visit to the home of Gunners fan James, from Dartford, who has a benign spinal tumour.

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno surprises cancer sufferer, 9

Leno, 29, and his wife Sophie travelled to Kent on Thursday to surprise the youngster and hand out gifts.

The shot-stopper posed for photos with James and his dad and even fielded questions from the youngster, who had undergone his latest round of chemotherapy a day before the visit.

Shortly after, the German international tweeted: "It was a pleasure to surprise this special little fighter."

The family had only recently welcomed another child when they received the news of James' diagnosis.

His meeting with Leno was made possible with the help of My Shining Star, a children's cancer charity based in Rainham, which offers emotional and financial support to families.

Anita Marinelli, who set up the charity and contacted the star, said: "It’s not every day you get to arrange for the Arsenal goalkeeper to actually go round to a little boy's house.

"I’ve cried and cried at this. Little James is nine and has a spinal tumour. The more surgery he has to remove the tumour, the less feeling he has in his legs."

The previous Pride in Medway winner heaped praise on Leno and his wife, who she said were a "dream to speak to".

Anita has organised star meet-and-greets for sick children before but this was the first time a footballer had offered to travel all the way to the child's home.

"They said they were quite happy to go and visit him - I have never had that before," she said.

"They were such a lovely couple and could not do enough, " she added. "They were like 'just tell us what you want us to do and we will do it'."

*Owing to some confusion between James' family and the charity, an earlier version of this article reported that his tumour was cancerous. We are happy to clarify that it is benign.