FORMER Oxford United player Joey Beauchamp crossed the Channel this weekend to take his daughter to meet two very special mice.

The ex-U’s, Swindon Town and West Ham winger and his wife Millie packed their bags for a three-day trip to Disneyland near Paris to see the park’s Bonfire Spectacular, courtesy of the Oxford Mail.

The proud parents took along their 22-month-old daughter Jessie and her second cousin Ellie Brookes, 10, to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse after winning our Baby of the Year competition.

The family received their prize at a ceremony at the Debenhams store in Magdalen Street, Oxford, in July, after notching up more votes than the other 479 entries.

Last night, the couple said the trip was “fantastic” – despite problems with their mini bus breaking down and a 12-hour coach trip to reach the famous park.

Mrs Beauchamp, who is expecting the couple’s second child, said: “Jessie loved the characters, but she was a bit small to go on a lot of rides.

“I asked her if she wanted her photo taken with the Disney characters but when she went up to them she was a bit star struck and had her hand over her eyes. She loved Mickey and Minnie Mouse, though.

“All in all it was brilliant. We would have loved to have stayed for an extra day.”

The family, from Titup Hall Drive, Wood Farm, watched the firework extravaganza light up the sky around Lake Disney and enjoyed watching a giant floating bonfire.

But the highlight was an all-singing, all-dancing parade through the park, and a trip to the Rainforest Cafe for chicken nuggets, chips and ice cream for tea.

As well as their trip, the couple won a framed photo, courtesy of Fraser Portraits, which took all the entrants’ photos, and £100 of Debenhams’ vouchers.

Mr Beauchamp said: “It was a long journey for one day, but we had a really good time. Jessie was amazing, her little cousin was with us and they just played all the way there.”

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk