Sir Patrick Stewart has given his support to the campaign for a young boy to be given medicinal cannabis to treat his epilepsy.

Alfie Dingley, aged six, suffers from a rare condition and can have up to 150 potentially life-threatening seizures a month.

He has been in hospital three times since returning from Holland four weeks ago, where his symptoms improved after he was treated with cannabis oil.

His parents, Drew Dingley and Hannah Deacon, want the Government to let him use the medication, a banned substance in the UK.

Sir Patrick, who uses medicinal cannabis to treat his arthritis while living in California, met Alfie and his family and gave his support to the campaign.

He said: "How could one not support Alfie?