An ill boy from Porthleven had an unexpected visitor to his hospital bedside last week when two Moshi Monsters characters came to see him.

Oliver, aged nine, was joined at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro by Poppet and Buster Bumblechops from the hit children’s franchise as they visited wards before heading to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary for the Easter break.

Gill Caddy, play specialist at the hospital, said: “We are very pleased the Moshi Monsters were able to come and see us. Visits like these really brighten up the day for our young patients.”

Lara Sword, from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, said: “The Moshi Monsters will be at the Seal Sanctuary until May 5 but we know some children are not well enough to come and see us so we thought it would be nice to visit them instead.”

The monsters have taken up residence at the sanctuary, in Gweek, where children can discover the underwater world through the Moshi Marine Force, and become a Buster Bumblechops Conservation Hero. Trevor Broome, Seal Sanctuary general manager, said: “Every Moshi fan who completes the Moshi Marine Force quiz trail will receive a secret code to unlock a new virtual Moshling character online.”

“The exclusive virtual Moshling is a whale called Lubber, and only those children who have been to the sanctuary or one of the Sea Life centres during a Moshi visit will be able to adopt him.”

There are still a few days left to win a prize package including a brand new Moshling soft toy, a family ticket to visit the sanctuary, and other Moshi Monsters goodies.

To win, send your name, address and phone number, along with the answer to the question “what is the name of the sanctuary’s very own Moshling Lubber?” to Moshi Monsters Competition, Packet Newspapers, Falmouth Business Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth, TR11 4SZ, before April 4.