Two children with life-limiting conditions rubbed shoulders with the stars at a Downing Street party hosted by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

Emmanuel Fafowora, eight, and his six-year-old sister Priscilla, of Woodford Green, who both have sickle-cell anaemia, spent the evening with Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard and former Spice Girl Gerri Halliwell, as well as Strictly Come Dancing stars at the event on Monday.

The party saw 11 Downing Street transformed into a winter wonderland and was jointly hosted by the Starlight Children's Foundation.

The Chancellor said: "I’m very proud to host The Starlight Children's Christmas Party at No 11 Downing Street and it is wonderful to be able to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to these very poorly children and their families.

"I would like to extend my thanks to all the celebrity guests for making this day so special for the children. Starlight is a fantastic charity and I am delighted to be able to support this event, which is the first of many activities provided by Starlight for seriously and terminally children over the Christmas period."

Actress and Starlight co-founder, Emma Samms, said: "It is an opportunity for our young guests to escape the confines of the hospital ward for an afternoon and the chance to enjoy some festive fun with their families."

Sickle cell anaemia is a heriditary condition which causes red blood cells carrying oxygen around the body develop to abnormally.