Children at the Royal Marsden Hospital enjoyed a taste of magic when their schoolroom was transformed into a circus ring.

Contortionists and a clown visited the children, aged between two and 13, who got the chance to practice some of their favourite circus tricks.

Some children juggled tennis balls, others were whirling colourful scarves and some practiced spinning plates on wobbly sticks.

The music and colourful costumes brought big smiles to the children’s faces.

Mustafa, aged seven, said: “I really really liked the bendy girl! It was fantastic-but I found the juggling difficult. I liked the clown a lot!”

Bette Petersen Broyd, Lead teacher of Hospital Education at the Royal Marsden said: “The benefit to patients is enormous, coming to the school room is already a way of escaping the medical reality.

“Our pupils cannot go out, visit places or mix with lots of other people. To have some magical entertainment and skill challenge happen right here in the hospital provides an enormous lift for the children and their families.”