Two-year-old Alfie to switch on town's Xmas lights

Parents Courtney and Lannock said Alfie was "strong, resilient and brave"

A "brave and resilient" two-year-old boy with a rare genetic condition has been chosen to switch on a town's Christmas lights.

Alfie lost peripheral vision and was left with partial paralysis after a prolonged seizure in March.

The toddler spent nine weeks in hospital and is undergoing rehab to regain use of his limbs and muscles.

Ross-on-Wye's Christmas Fayre starts at 11:00 BST on 26 November, with Alfie's big moment at 16:30 BST.

"My partner and I are both completely over the moon that Alfie has been picked," said mum, Courtney.

“We have a strong, resilient, brave little boy who will no doubt fight off any hurdles he may [or] may not come to in life."

Alfie was born with a gene mutation which only 12 other people in the UK are registered with.

The seizure on 6 March affected the limbs on his right side, his trunk and postural muscles, said Ross-on-Wye Town Council.

After 12 weeks of rehab with The Children's Trust, he has now regained full neck control, sitting balance and has started to crawl.

The council received numerous nominations for Alfie after a public call-out and said it was moved by his story.

"We really were not expecting this, but it is a wonderful gesture, and it is so heart warming that people are cheering on our boy,” added Courtney.