Eight children and their families were collected from the central London hospital by cabs decorated with tinsel and Christmas lights.

Children who are missing out on festive family fun while they stay at Great Ormond Street Hospital were given a free trip to see London’s Christmas lights by black cab drivers.

Eight children and their families were collected from the central London hospital by cabs decorated with tinsel and Christmas lights while inside the cars they found Christmas crackers, Santa hats and chocolate gifts.

Among them was three-year-old Alfie, from south-east London, who has been an inpatient since June and is likely to stay at the hospital until the end of January.

Alfie is being treated for Xiap deficiency, a rare immunodeficiency caused by a genetic mutation in the Xiap gene which reduces its ability to regulate the body’s immune response.

This can result in inflammatory bowel disease, recurrent fevers, low blood count and an enlarged spleen.

Alfie had a bone marrow transplant in July with the aim of curing his condition but complications have extended his time in hospital.

Alfie has been poorly since he was a baby but has never been in hospital during the Christmas period although he hopes to be able to go home for a few hours on Christmas Day.

The long stay has also limited the time he can spend with his brothers Teddie, 12, and Bobby, nine, but the three boys and their parents Kathleen and Chris, both 37, were able to........

© Shropshire Star