For 40 years Bubbly Bingo the clown brightened up the lives of children and families across Norfolk with his pranks, comedy stunts and tricks.

And now a heartfelt mission has been launched to bring a smile to face of the man behind decades of fun - Malcolm Mallet, who is well known for clowning around for the last 20 years at Pettitts Animal Adventure Park at Reedham.

Mr Mallet, from Norwich, has been diagnosed with blood cancer and is being treated at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

His daughter Donna Amiteye has launched an appeal called Operation show Bingo the love and is asking people to send in messages of support of love to him.

She said: 'My dad has cancer and is very poorly, this illness is making him very depressed. Bubbly Bingo the clown has made the Norfolk people smile for the past 40 years, it's now time for the Norfolk people to make him smile in my quest to make the greatest man I know smile again and help get him out of this black hole.'

To send a message or a card to Bubbly Bingo people can contact Mrs Amiteye by emailing dondukey03@aol.com or calling 0737 6120399.

Messages of support can also be sent in via this newspaper by emailing anthony.carroll@archant.co.uk