A GROUP of poorly children from south Essex were each granted a special wish when they attended a party filled with their favourite celebrities.

Eden Langford, six, from Basildon, Bethany Hambleton, eight, also from Basildon and Sam Lowe, 11, from Benfleet were all invited to No 11 Downing Street by the Chancellor George Osborne with the Starlight charity which grants wishes for poorly youngsters.

Spice Geri Halliwell, pop band Lawson, X Factor sensation Ella Henderson and singers Jamelia and Carly Rae Jepsen were all at the party.

The children were accompanied by their parents to the memorable event where they were given a tour of the winter wonderland house and tucked into an extravagant afternoon tea.

Sam’s mum Cassie, 37, of Bartley Road, said: “The event was great and we had such a good time, after everything Sam has been through this was a lovely treat.”

Sam was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in July 2011 and he lost out on a whole year of schooling because he had to take on continuous treatment.

Cassie added: “At first the doctors thought it was epilepsy because he was having seizures but my husband said right from the beginning it was a brain tumour and he was proved right.

“It was such a terrible thing to go through as a family and its hard to describe how you feel. Its just like being numb because you cannot do anything but Sam has been so brave and just amazing.”

Eden suffers from severe epilepsy and the party was a lovely treat to share with her mum Nicola and a great opportunity for her to meet some of her favourite singers and have some fun.

Bethany suffers from Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, which is a serious inherited condition and causes problems with skin, ligaments, cartilage and blood vessels, leading to fragility of connective tissues.

Bethany met Lawson at the event and got to spend some quality time with her mum Deborah.

After meeting the children Geri, who was at the event on Tuesday, December 11, said: "Wow, the children I met were inspirational, even through their suffering they keep smiling, how wonderful to have a Christmas party with them.

“Over 100,000 children will be spending Christmas in hospital and Starlight is such a wonderful organisation that really brings joy to so many children. Thank you to all that supports them."

If you would like to donate to the Starlight charity please log onto www.starlight.org.uk