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A South Wales-based charity arranged for two youngsters to meet their One Direction heroes at the Millennium Stadium – with a little help from its Welsh rugby star patron.

Wales scrum half Mike Philllips, patron of Church Village charity Follow Your Dreams, met One Direction band member Niall Horan at a chance meeting in New York last year.

Philllips asked if the band would be willing to surprise some young children from the charity during their two-night Cardiff visit on Friday and Saturday.

A total of 17 children from the charity were taken to the two concerts, while some of them were taken backstage before each concert to meet band members Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis.

'A wonderful couple of days'

Diane Blackmore, chief executive officer of Follow Your Dreams, said: “It was such a wonderful couple of days.

“We are so grateful to One Direction for spending some of their precious free time with us. They have such busy schedules and it was amazing of them to take the time to meet the kids and give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Fans at One Direction's gigs in Cardiff:

“The concerts were incredible and all the kids had so much fun.

“As ever, we are so grateful to Mike who is a wonderful patron who is always thinking of us and what he can do for the children.”

On the Friday evening, Follow Your Dreams ambassador Amy Johnston – along with two of the charity’s volunteers – went to meet the band, followed 24 hours later by another young person associated with the charity, Ashley, and her siblings Saul and Maddie.

One Direction's concert:

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Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis had photos taken with the children and presented them with a signed a T-shirt and programme, which Follow your Dreams will be auctioning off to raise money.

Ashley is in a wheelchair and the charity had previously got local printing company Trustmark to make her custom-designed One Direction wheel covers.

Related:Welsh rugby star Mike Phillips takes another pop at Niall Horan and Ireland

'Mike Phillips is my superhero'

On seeing these, the band members were thrilled and immediately signed the wheelchair for Ashley, who was over the moon.

Related:Amy's dream comes true as she meets Welsh rugby star Mike Phillips

Mike also paid for Amy’s ticket to the concert. Amy does her own fundraising for the charity and has recently raised £2,000 from selling hand-knitted toys at local fetes.

She said: “Mike Philllips has always been my hero. But now he’s my superhero!”

Follow Your Dreams, based in South Wales, is a national charity operating in England and Wales that inspires children and young people with learning disabilities to follow their dreams.

The charity will be raffling off the signed T-shirt through £1 donations via Text Giving.

To enter, text ONED15 £1 to 70070.