A six-year-old boy's dream came true when he walked out onto the pitch with his Hornets hero on Saturday.

Rio Woolf, who was named Watford's Local Hero, was one of six mascots at the Watford FC clash against Birmingham City.

The schoolboy from Bushey Heath not only got to walk out with the captain, Troy Deeney, but also warm up with the Hornets and visit the players in the dressing room.

He said: "It was the best day of my life. I got to go on the pitch with Troy and shake all the players hands and kicking the ball with them was really fun."

This was Rio's fifth visit to Vicarage Road and he was very happy to be a mascot and wants to do it again said Mum Juliette Woolf.

She added: "It was a magical day and such a special moment to see him walk out with the Hornets. He loved the whole experience and did not want the day to end.

"It was quite emotional - I could see my hands shaking as I was trying to take photos. The whole family was there with him, my parents - Rio's grandparents, also came to see him and this was their first ever football match."

Dad Trevor Woolf said: "It was a superb day and we are very proud of Rio. It was great as a parent to be on the sidelines, watching him walk out and even better that Watford won the match."

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.

Despite 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.

Mrs Woolf added that Rio now wants to send a thank you card to the Watford captain for making his dream come true.

Rio's parents are raising money to provide his future lightweight prosthetic limbs. 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.