A LITTLE girl with a big heart visited cancer patients to deliver gifts.

Inspired by her grandad’s six-year battle with the disease, Paige Alcorn-Clark, 11, visited Essex County Hospital.

Having got little support raising sponsorship, the youngster even used her own birthday money to buy gifts.

She created gift bags containing a pad and pen, decorations, chocolates, fruit and a Christmas cracker.

Paige, of Alresford Road, Wivenhoe, delighted patients by delivering them presents, chatting and handing out hugs and kisses.

She came up with the idea in tribute to her grandfather, Robert Alcorn, 71, who lost an eye to cancer five years ago.

Mr Alcorn was given six months to live in October last year but has defied the odds to battle on.

Paige’s grandmother, Joy Alcorn, 67, said: “I’m so proud of Paige.

“She is old enough to see what’s going on with her granddad who has been in these wards.

“The kids were told he wouldn’t be here for Christmas but he is and she wanted to do something nice.

“They loved her and there were a lot of tears.”

Paige visited patients on the Rhys Lewis and Jefferson wards, accompanied by her mum, grandma and brother.

Ward sister Beverley Pickett said: “The patients were absolutely flabbergasted this little girl had thought of other people.

“She was adorable, cute and polite.

“She was also very brave as our patients are very poorly and can be hard when you come somewhere like this.

“One patient kept giving her kisses and others just could not believe it was all her idea.”

Paige, who has previously raised money for Macmillan nurses, is already planning her next charitable venture.

The budding performer is also due to appear as a dancer in pantomime Cinderella at Clacton’s Princes Theatre.