Pop superstar Ed Sheeran has rallied to the aid of a couple battling to give their terminally ill girl pain relief.

The singer has donated a signed guitar which will be raffled off by Karina and Nigel Driscoll, who face a £50,000 legal fight over the care of daughter Melody.

Ed and Melody, 11, have met twice and developed “a lovely instant bond” – and she would lovingly blow kisses when she saw him on the TV.

Melody has incurable Rett syndrome, which affects brain development, is unable to walk or talk and could die any day.

Doctors at London’s King’s College Hospital are withdrawing morphine and steroids which Karina, 35, and Nigel, 46, say help relieve agonising stomach pains.

(Image: Croydon Advertiser)

(Image: Melody in mind)

They are trying to force medics into a U-turn and are grateful for the backing of Ed, famed for No1 hits like Thinking Out Loud and Perfect.

Karina said: “We’re completely overwhelmed. It’s so lovely he’d think of us in this way.

"We are going to run a raffle so all of Ed’s fans have an equal chance of winning.”

Ed, 27, signed the instrument: “Play this guitar, lots of love, Ed.”

Melody’s parents were delighted when the star agreed to visit their girl in hospital in November 2016.

The pair then enjoyed a second meeting at a private show held at London’s O2 arena.

(Image: Croydon Advertiser)

Karina said: “Melody may not be able to talk, but she certainly has an amazing, bubbly personality.

“Whenever Ed came on TV, her face would light up and she’d blow kisses at him. We joked that he was her boyfriend. When they met they had an instant, lovely bond.”

But the family’s world was shattered last October when doctors announced they planned to wean Melody off pain relief over concerns it could damage her liver.

The Driscolls say this left Melody screaming in pain and they argue she should be allowed to live out whatever time she has left in comfort.

(Image: Sunday Mirror)

Social workers threatened to have Melody removed from her parents’ care when they began court proceedings but backtracked after the case was raised in the Sunday Mirror.

The family is being represented by top lawyer Charles Da Silva, who acted for the family of 11-month-old Charlie Gard – the tot who died after his parents lost a legal wrangle over his care.

Karina said: “I’d rather Melody had one more year filled with happiness than five years of pain.”

Singer Karina and panel beater Nigel, from Croydon, South London, both gave up their jobs to care for Melody full time.

They were horrified when told doctors were weaning her off the painkillers which stop her excruciating pain.

Karina added: “It’s only now we realise how few rights we have as parents but we won’t give up. Melody can’t speak, so we are her voice.

"As she screams, she points to her stomach, as if to say: ‘Why aren’t you helping me, mum’?”

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is unable to comment on Melody’s case but says “all decisions taken are in our patients’ best interests”.