A LITTLE boy born with half a heart has been on a trip of a lifetime to Lapland to meet Father Christmas.

Oliver Wolstencroft (5), of Mather Road, Walmersley, was nominated for the trip by staff at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury, who have looked after him on his treatment visits since he was born.

The event was organised by the children's charity When You Wish Upon a Star, which works to make the wishes of sick children come true. More than 100 children were invited to Lapland as part of the trip, and were able to take a guest along with them.

Mum Kathryn, who accompanied Oliver, said: "It was a wonderful day. We took the three-hour flight to Lapland with celebrities like Coronation Street's Nikki Sanderson and when we got there had lunch and then the children got to meet Father Christmas.

"Oliver was absolutely over the moon. We were all wrapped up warm because it was about minus 20 degrees outside, but it was lovely. The celebrities spent the whole day with the children and chatted with them at lunchtime and on the flight."

Doctors say the youngster will need to have a heart transplant in his mid to late teens, but Mrs Wolstencroft says he is battling on at the moment.

She said: "He's actually doing really well. The trip has given him a boost. He has had nine operations and two lots of open heart surgery. But he's very brave."