A footballer gave up his own time to make a young fan's dream come true.

Sanj Kumar, a sales consultant at Audi Watford, sold a car to Watford striker, Marlon King in November.

At the same time, a friend mentioned that she knew Louie Penfold, an avid Watford fan, who had recently lost his mum to cancer.

Sanj decided to arrange for Marlon to surprise the 12-year-old Watford fan, and, after a series of failed attempts, managed to arrange the tear-jerking meeting.

Louie's dad, Gary Penfold, aged 42, who was brought up in Croxley Green and used to deliver the Watford Observer as a boy, said: "Louie just looked up at Marlon with starry eyes. My heart melted for him.

"Marlon did this all off his own back for my son and it was fantastic."

On the day of the surprise, Gary made his excuses and took Louie to the showroom, and as Marlon drove into the car park, Sanj went outside to escort him in.

Out of the corner of his eye, Louie looked up and then looked back at Gary and said: "What's Marlon doing here?"

Marlon walked straight up to Louie and said "Hello mate, have a good Christmas?".

The 27-year-old striker handed Louie one of his Premiership Watford shirts and signed it in front of him.

Gary, who has held a Watford season ticket since 1978, said: "There was stunned silence and the grin on Louie's face was fantastic.

"I have a lot of respect for Marlon in a world where most football players seem or want to be untouchable.

"This has made my son extremely happy after a very difficult year for him and me."

Louie said: "It was the best surprise ever, I was very very shocked and I am a big fan of Marlon's, and I like everything about him."

Marlon said: "Louie lost his mum to cancer and I got asked to see him as I believe he's quite a fan of mine.

"To lose anyone close to you is devastating, so me doing that is nothing compared to what he's going through.

"I couldn't have gone there empty-handed so I took him a shirt and some signed photos and he was well chuffed as he didn't know I was coming to see him."