8 year-old boy makes round trip from Essex to become Plymouth Argyle's honorary mascot

An eight year-old boy with complex health problems and learning difficulties from Essex has become Plymouth Argyle's honorary match-day mascot.

Joe Mitchell makes the regular 10 hour round trip from Stansted to Plymouth with his mother and sister to cheer on the Pilgrims at Home Park.

He's now a familiar and well liked face in the dressing room as well as on the terraces - he chats with the manager, high-fives the players, lays out cones for the warm-up, and generally "bosses everyone around".

Joe was born prematurely at 25 week and spent much of his early life in hospital.

When his mother, Claire, adopted him aged three and a half Joe did not know how to play and had no friends.

But a chance match-day outing to Home Park during a visit to Plymouth has helped him to grow in confidence.

The club is now his extended family and the supporters have taken the affable boy to their hearts - some recently presented him with a themed blanket for the long car journeys.