CHILDREN at a hospice got a special Christmas treat when they were visited by the stars of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs panto.

Staff at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices Treehouse facility in St Augustine’s Gardens, which cares for children with life-limiting conditions, said the visit had helped ignite a festive feeling.

Among the children who got to mix with the stars was Tilly Jennings, who handed a posy of flowers to the Duchess of Cambridge in March when Kate – the charity’s patron – made her first solo public event.

EACH spokeswoman Camilla Haycock said: “It’s fantastic the cast of the Ipswich Regent panto took time out to come and visit the Treehouse.

“The children were very excited to see their panto heroes, such as Snow White, Prince Charming and Dolly.

“Panto is part of Christmas and it’s really set them up to enjoy a fantastic festive period. It was a great early Christmas present for all of them.”

Six-year-old Tilly, who was nominated in the Courageous Young Person of the year category at last year’s Stars of Suffolk Awards, was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition at just 12 hours old.

But she enjoyed singing songs with Snow White and the rest of the panto stars, as well as making posters with them and giving them a tour of the hospice.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs raised the curtains for its first show at the Ipswich Regent on Friday, and the cast will take their final bow with their last performance on Sunday.

“One of the supporters donates money every Christmas so there will be around 30 families going to watch the panto at the Ipswich Regent,” added Mrs Haycock.