The Avengers have teamed up to help lift the spirits of a teenage fan with cancer.

Iron Man Robert Downey Jr joined Captain America Chris Evans to visit 18-year-old Ryan Wilcox at his former suburban San Diego high school on Monday.

The trip was documented on Instagram by Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts in the Iron Man films.

She wrote: “Today @ryanwilcox0303 got a little surprise. Thank you to the incredible #chrisevans and my better work half @robertdowneyjr for being the men you both are. And thank you to the Wilcox family for your hospitality! #ryanstrong”

San Diego TV station KSWB reported students at Grossmont High School made a plea on Facebook this month asking the cast of Captain America: Civil War to visit Ryan, saying it could be the best moment of his life. Chris responded with a video message telling Ryan to “stay strong”.

The station says Ryan left the school a year and a half ago to battle leukaemia.