A seriously ill boy from Benfleet was given the chance to meet his heroes on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland Paris.

Eight-year-old Callum Axford and his sister Sophie, four, were surprised on his birthday by his parents Faye and Carl Axford, 36 and 35, with the trip.

It was organised by Rays of Sunshine, a charity granting wishes for seriously ill children.

Heartwarming video footage of the moment Callum was told about the surprise trip on July 5 was released by the charity online.

Callum was born prematurely at Kings College Hospital, and spent eight months there before finally being allowed home.

He has since been diagnosed with an extremely rare combination of cerebral palsy and neurofibromatosis type one, a condition that can cause tumours to grow and result in a range of symptoms.

Mum Faye said: “It was even more magical than we could have hoped – just a really special time for us to spend together.

“Callum was absolutely thrilled, and it was lovely that Sophie also got to join in with the fun. We are so grateful – we were treated like VIPs and it couldn’t have been better.”

Jane Sharpe, CEO of Rays of Sunshine said: “Every day of the year, we give brave and deserving children, just like Callum, the chance to put their illness on hold and enjoy a moment of escape.

“Every wish is special and Callum’s wish to go to Disneyland Paris was no exception.

“It was a privilege for us to be able to make his wish become a reality and organise for him and his family to go on a magical trip together and enjoy precious time together.”