SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell used her night off from performing with the reunited girl group to pay a visit to a 14-year-old stabbing victim.

Ginger Spice Geri spent Friday night at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital at the bedside of Jessica Knight, who was stabbed up to 30 times as she walked through a park in Astley Village, near Chorley, last week.

The singer stayed for more than half an hour, chatting to Jessica who remains in a critical but stable condition, a police spokesman confirmed.

And Jessica’s parents, Richard Knight and Jill Walmsley, said she had responded to the surprise visit by moving her legs and arms.

Delighted

They previously revealed she was communicating with them by wiggling her toes. Mr Knight said: “We were delighted when Geri agreed to come and visit Jessica and she was really generous with her time.

Although Jess is unable to speak at the moment you could tell she was really excited as she kept moving her arms and her legs as Geri was talking to her. She is a big Spice Girls fan and I’m sure this will help her on her road to recovery.”

After the visit, Geri returned to The Lowry Hotel in Salford where the girlgroup has been staying while performing their string of sell-out dates at the M.E.N. Arena.

Kristofer Beddar, 21, of Daisy Hill Drive, Adlington, Lancashire, is due to appear at Preston Crown Court on February 4 in connection with the attempted murder of Jessica.