TWO Eastleigh boys have set off on an all-expenses-paid holiday of a lifetime to the US, thanks to a national charity.

Ben Vivian, 11, and David Smith, 14, had rarely left the UK save for trips to short-haul destinations such as France.

But yesterday the schoolboys, who both have disabilities, boarded a jumbo jet bound for a ten-day visit to the sunshine state of Florida, courtesy of Dreamflight.

Celebrities including Hampshire TV gardener Charlie Dimmock, Pop Idol presenters Ant and Dec and the charity's patron Sir Cliff Richard lined up to see off Ben, David and hundreds of other lucky children on their holiday.

Once over the Atlantic they will enjoy VIP treatment while being ferried around attractions including Disneyland, MGM Studios, Universal Studios and Sea World.

David's mum Mary, 50, of Eastleigh, said her son, who has cerebral palsy, was delighted to be visiting Florida.

The mother-of-two said he had been nominated by a member of staff at Lord Mayor Treloar School, near Alton, where he is a boarder.

She said she felt David deserved the opportunity because he works so hard to get the most out of life. He is the current disabled UK champion at boccia, a game similar to petanque.

She said: "He meets life with a clear attitude. He's just trying to grab it with both hands while he can. The disability doesn't get in the way with David. We'd never be able to afford to take him on a holiday like this so it's brilliant the charity are going to take him."

Ben has Marfan's syndrome, an inherited disorder of the body's connective tissues characterised by excessive tallness, abnormally long and slender fingers and toes, heart defects and partial dislocation on the lenses of the eyes.

He is equally delighted to be taking a trip with Dreamflight as his brother Adam, 15, went on the same holiday last year.

Mum Jackie, a neonatal nurse, said the holiday had come just at the right time as her son had found his first term at Wyvern Technology College in Fair Oak extremely demanding.

The 40-year-old, of Beaver Drive, Bishopstoke, said: "This will be quite a welcome break for Ben. He's very, very excited about the holiday."

Dreamflight has taken nearly 4,000 disadvantaged children on holiday to Florida since starting the annual trips in 1988.