The Metropolitan Police have granted a wish for a young seriously ill boy to be a policeman for the day in London.

On Saturday 22nd July, national charity Starlight Children’s Foundation granted seven-year-old Charlie Peebles’ wish to be a policeman with the help of the Metropolitan Police.

When Charlie was six-months-old, he was diagnosed with a serious condition called hereditary spherocytosis. This means his red blood cells are oval shaped rather than round so his spleen thinks they’re foreign bodies and attacks them. A simple virus or infection, like an ear infection, can be very dangerous for Charlie and he needs blood transfusions to fight them.

As well as hereditary spherocytosis, Charlie also has another genetic blood condition called Type 1 Von Willebrands disease. This is a bleeding disorder like haemophilia and Charlie needs medication to help his blood to clot.

Ally, Charlie’s mum, said, “The weekend has been fantastic especially watching his face light up. It’s been amazing to see Charlie’s Starlight Wish granted because being a policeman is all he ever talks about and all he has ever talked about. Most children don’t get to have their dreams come true until they grow up so it’s amazing that Charlie’s have come true at this early stage.”