RELATIVES of poorly children had a surprise when eating their cereal when a former England footballer pulled up a chair to join them.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown stopped by at Ronald McDonald House in Oxford to show his support for the work it does, providing patients' families with a free place to stay while their loved ones are cared for at the Children's Hospital.

Oxford resident Mr Keown chatted over breakfast to Hannah Lambert, whose nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth has a rare neurological disorder.

Mrs Lambert, 28, said: "I just happened to be there. I'm not a football fan so I didn't know who he was until Elizabeth's dad told me.

"He was lovely, he was really interested in Elizabeth's condition because a lot of people haven't heard of it."

She met him alongside her mum Cathy Muddle during his visit to the house, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, on Wednesday.

Elizabeth was diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia, a progressive genetic condition, last year and was given a life expectancy of 25 years.

Mrs Lambert said the family, who live in Northamptonshire, have been back and forth from the hospital and Ronald McDonald House ever since.

She added: "They've been absolutely brilliant. It's so handy to have this here and it's a comfort to know I can pop upstairs to have a shower and feel normal."