Patients on the children’s ward at Southampton General Hospital were treated to a special panto performance to mark the start of the festive season.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation took to the stage to perform Sleeping Beauty for the poorly youngsters, many who will spend Christmas on the ward.

Duke Christopher, Starlight tour manager, said: “A lot of these children can’t leave the hospital. We just come in to bring in a bit of festivity to them and try to put a little smile on their faces.”

The Starlight Children’s Foundation, which makes dreams come true for seriously ill children, performs more than 80 pantomimes over seven weeks in the run up to Christmas.

Echo picture by Ian Crump. |Order no: 11614580.