Christmas came early for Cuckfield schoolboy Tom George when he partied with TV, film and sporting stars at Number 11 Downing Street.

Tom, 10, a pupil at Holy Trinity School, travelled to London with his mum Sarah to join the party, hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne. He was one of a group of 40 children invited to the event by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a charity that grants wishes to seriously ill children.

The children were greeted by celebrities and sporting stars, including Chelsea Football Club’s Frank Lampard, rugby star and Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ben Cohen, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.

But Tom’s personal favourites were childrens’ TV stars Dick and Dom (pictured).

“They were really good fun,” said Tom, who added that entering 11 Downing Street was “a bit like going into the Tardis!”

Another special moment for Tom was having his face painted by one of London theatre’s top make up artists. Tom chose a dramatic tiger. “It was brilliant - so good he was reluctant to wash it off at the end of the day,” said dad Philip.

Read the full story by Claire Cooper on page 16 of Jan/Feb magazine.