AN INSPIRATIONAL child battling severe health issues took to the stage to sing at the Royal Albert Hall with his hero.

Callum Axford, eight, of Strangman Avenue, Benfleet, joined musical theatre actor and singer Alfie Boe at the world famous venue in London on Wednesday night.

Echo:

Excited - Callum outside the famous venue

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Guest - mum Faye with singer Alfie Boe

The show was the final date in Mr Boe’s musical tour, and Callum performed as part of a children’s choir featured in the production.

Callum was born prematurely with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and has since been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, neurofibromatosis type One and chronic lung disease.

Despite this, it has not stopped him fighting every day, and thanks to the children’s charity Rays of Sunshine he was able to take part in the show.

The charity helps children with serious or life-limiting illnesses.

Callum, a pupil at Thundersley Primary School, was delighted with the experience.

The young singer, and passionate Arsenal fan, has previously been treated with a trip to meet his favourite players.

His proud mother, Faye Axford, said the performance at the Royal Albert Hall was “a day they thought would never come”.

She said: “Rays of Sunshine have granted him so many wishes, and they called up a few weeks ago and asked if Callum enjoyed singing.

“He’s been really enjoying singing in the school choir that he’s part of, and so the charity got us to send an audition tape of him to try and get into the Rays of Sunshine Choir.

“Amazingly, he got through and joined the rest for rehearsals before getting on stage with Alfie on Wednesday.

“It was such a special moment.

“I got to meet Alfie briefly and he remembered Callum well, having already rehearsed.

“And when on stage all of the kids got their little moment.

“Callum sang so well and made us both so proud.

“We were given a box to sit in and watch, it was such a special moment.”

The choir sang the song “Bring Me Sunshine” by Morecambe and Wise, with each member performing a small solo during the rendition.

Callum is due to take part in more events for the Rays of Sunshine choir over the next few months.

Faye, 37, his father Carl, 35, and sister Sophie, three, have battled with Callum through his early childhood which saw him constantly in and out of hospital, but said he remains upbeat and determined despite the challenges.

Faye added: “It’s a day we never thought would happen.

“Callum is one of the very, very few people to live with all these conditions simultaneously.

“But I think it’s his incredible attitude that gets him through it all.

“He is a lovely boy, and this just goes to show how talented he really is.”