A six-year-old boy, who was named Watford's Local Hero, said he will have the "best day" of his life when he walks out on pitch with his Hornet's hero.

Rio Woolf will be one of six mascots at the Watford FC home fixture against Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Bushey Heath schoolboy, who officially turned on the Christmas lights at intu Watford last year, will be walking out with Troy Deeney - his hero.

He said: "I'm very excited to go out with Troy and shake all the players' hands."

Mum Juliette Woolf said: "We are very proud of our son. He has a strong passion for football and this will be like a dream come true for him and it's all thanks to the local hero competition the Watford Observer ran and him winning it - this would not be happening otherwise.

"We're also very grateful to Watford FC for making Rio's dreams come true, especially Troy. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Rio added: "It's going to be the best day in my whole life."

"It is going to be such a special moment for him and he has been counting down the days," Mrs Woolf said.

"There is a tournament being hosted by Watford FC Community, Sports & Education Trust on Saturday - The Subway Together Cup - for disabled adults, so it coincides well with that."

Rio was born without a tibia, knee or ankle joint, because of a rare condition called tibial aplasia and had his leg amputated when he was 14-months-old.

In spite of this, the Hartsbourne Primary School pupil has aspirations of becoming a Paralympic athlete and last year was the first child in the UK to receive a new running blade with a prosthetic foot.

Dad Trevor Woolf, who is also an avid football fan, will be accompanying Rio on Saturday. He said: "I love seeing Rio living life to the fullest and living his dream. He even has some of the Hornets colours on his blade.

"We've been there with him all the way, from meeting Prince Harry at the Invictus Games to Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock at the Anniversary Games."

The excited youngster is a particular fan of Troy Deeney and Lloyd Doyley and predicts Saturday's game will be a 2-1 win to Watford FC.

Rio's parents are raising money to provide his future lightweight prosthetic limbs so that he can live life to the full and pursue his Paralympic dream.

To donate visit: http://www.justgiving.com/run-rio-run or for more information visit: http://www.run-rio-run.co.uk; follow Rio on: www.facebook.com/RioWoolf; www.twitter.com/@BladeBoyRio