Carlisle United’s players were transformed into snowmen and Christmas trees by some of the club’s youngest fans in an evening of festive fun.

The popular Junior Blues’ Christmas party, held at the Shepherds Inn, Rosehill. saw John Sheridan’s first-team squad join in a host of Yuletide activities and games.

Children aged from four to 11 took delight in turning players such as Regan Slater, Hallam Hope, George Glendon and Jack Egan into snowmen by using reams of toilet roll.

Later, heroes including captain Danny Grainger, midfielder Jamie Devitt and defender Tom Parkes were turned into trees.

All the players were involved in several more activities, including a “Captain’s Orders” game which saw Blues skipper Grainger read out instructions leading to his team-mates and the children giving each other piggy backs and performing dance moves.

Another elimination contest saw children have to run towards one of four players, each wearing festive headgear - Jerry Yates, for instance, donning a turkey-shaped hat.

A “quiz with a twist” later saw community sports trust boss John Halpin at the centre of things, as kids tried to race to him the quickest with answers to questions.

The squad then lined up to sign autographs at the party, which was split into two halves – one for four to sevens, another for eight to 11s.

It was organised by United’s Katie Mitchell along with Amy Nixon, Louise Banks, Lucy Weston and Sarah McKnight, while Kath Mitchell, head of Cumwhinton School, was also involved.

Katie Mitchell said: “There was a fantastic response again this year from the children and as ever they were the stars of the show, ably supported by the players.

“Everybody had a huge amount of fun.”

Meanwhile, an inspirational teenager has been enjoying a winter trip of a lifetime thanks to a Blues charity initiative.

Alesha Bancroft, 14, was in London this week through the “Make a Dream Come True” fundraising initiative by United and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice.

They have enjoyed trips to the London Eye, the Sea Life London Aquarium, London Zoo and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Alesha, from Denton Holme, was not expected to live beyond the age of two, spent the first 13 months of her life in hospital and was ventilator-dependent because of a range of conditions including chronic lung disease.

But the has defied doctors’ predictions and has now embarked on an all-expenses-paid, two-day trip along with parents Barry and Kylie, brothers Hayden and Arran, sister Alexis and Alesha’s carer.

United, led by director of football David Holdsworth, teamed up with Jigsaw for a fundraising initiative that would help send a sick child and their family on an unforgettable winter trip.

Alesha and her family were guests at Brunton Park for United’s game against Forest Green last month where the children were kitted out with Blues coats and scarves.