A SERIOUSLY ill youngster from Wooburn Green was given some festive cheer after being invited to a star-studded Downing Street bash.

Charlie Walker was invited along to 11 Downing Street by the Starlight Children's Foundation, a national charity that grants wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

Charlie suffers from medulloblastoma, a form of brain tumour, and he was recently referred to Starlight for a wish. The seven-year-old's wish is to go to Disneyland Paris and the Downing Street visit was a Christmas treat for him while Starlight works on his wish.

Chelsea and England football star Frank Lampard, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint and popular children's comedy duo Dick and Dom were among those to attend the party on Monday December 9, which was hosted by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

The state rooms were transformed into a festive wonderland complete with a Santa's grotto for the children and their families.

Mr Osborne said: "It is wonderful to be able to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to these very poorly children and their families. I would like to extend my thanks to all the celebrity guests for making this day so special for the children.

"Starlight is a fantastic charity and I am delighted to be able to support this event, which is the first of many activities provided by Starlight for seriously and terminally children over the Christmas period."

Starlight co founder Emma Samms said: "The Starlight Children's Christmas Party at 11 Downing Street is one of the highlights of the charity’s Christmas programme and we are enormously grateful to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his team for hosting this event for a fourth year.

"It is an opportunity for our young guests to escape the confines of the hospital ward for an afternoon and the chance to enjoy some festive fun with their families."

For more information on Starlight go to www.starlight.org.uk.