The parents of a 12-year-old boy left in a comatose state after suffering brain damage say they have been given more time to make an application to the European Court of Human Rights.

Three Court of Appeal judges on Monday upheld a ruling by a High Court judge who had decided that doctors could lawfully stop treating Archie Battersbee.

A lawyer representing Archie's parents, Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, from Southend, had asked appeal judges to "stay" the termination of treatment to allow time for consideration of an application to the European court.

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Appeal judges imposed a stay and said Archie's parents could have until 2pm on Wednesday to make an application to the European court.

Archie's parents are being supported by a campaign group called the Christian Legal Centre.

A spokesman for the centre said on Wednesday that appeal judges had extended that deadline to 2pm on Thursday, after lawyers made a further, written, request.

They aim to ask judges at the European Court of Human Rights to intervene after losing the latest round of a treatment fight in London, a lawyer said.