Actor lights up brave boy's life

Harry Crowther is the only sufferer in the world of a rare genetic form of Atypical Progeria Syndrome, which means his body is ageing five-times faster than normal, leaving him with painful arthritis and thinning skin which bruises easily.

The schoolboy couldn't believe it when X-Men hero Sir Patrick, 70, called him to ask if he could fill in for him at the ceremony in Mirfield on Saturday because he had a commitment to a Broadway play and would be spending Christmas in the US.

Harry's mother Sharron Crowther, from Huddersfield, said: "I sat with Harry throughout the phone call and he was just grinning from ear to ear.

"We had no idea he was going to ring. His older brother answered the phone one night and his face just dropped. He mouthed 'Oh my God, it's Sir Patrick Stewart for Harry.'

Around 500 people turned out for the switch-on, despite the chilly temperature, to watch Harry flip the switch. He also had to judge an elf competition before taking a ride in Santa's sleigh with the winner.

Harry said: "We are both ambassadors of Mirfield so he decided to ask me. There are 12 ambassadors but I am the only child.

"It was a real honour to turn on the lights and it was really noisy when I did because everyone cheered and clapped. They look really pretty and are strung up over the houses and shops."