Children with life-limiting illness and their families were exclusively invited to Winter Wonderland to celebrate the festive season.

Those who are receiving support from Northfleet-based hospice charity ellenor enjoyed a Christmas day out including ice sculpting workshops, sing-alongs, fondue tasting, ice skating, and a circus show.

It was the first of the Winter Wishes charity events hosted at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland which welcomed charities, schools, and youth groups which help those with disabilities or who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

ellenor’s corporate partnerships manager Jemma Kemp said: “It was such a pleasure to get families to such an amazing event; families that would not necessarily be able to experience that otherwise.

“Many of these families would not have dreamed of going to Winter Wonderland; because it is too busy, too hard to get to, and a challenge on public transport for people in wheelchairs.

“But thanks to the passionate team we are so lucky to have here at ellenor, and to the selflessness and generosity of local cabbies and Gravesend and Meopham Rotary Club – we made it happen.

“And that sounds like a Christmas miracle to me.”

The hospice, in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, asked a black cab driver and ellenor volunteer Pete Guirguis if he would be able to help with transport for the families to attend the event.

With the help of his colleagues, a convoy of black taxis picked up the group from the Manor Hotel, in Gravesend, and took them to the event.

Taxi driver Micky Harris, whose late wife Barbara was under ellenor's care, said: “Christmas gives us the opportunity to actually be the people we should be all year long.

“There are people out there who need some extra support. We have the ability to donate our time to make sure they get that support.

“If we can do that – if we can make a person’s Christmas that little bit brighter, or happier – the world will be all the better for it.”

Those who were able to took the train with their tickets funded by the Gravesend and Meopham Rotary Club.