A Christmas dream has come true for two courageous youngsters who have been taken on a trip of a lifetime to meet Santa.

Ice palaces and 20ft snowmen greeted four-year-old Danielle Skilbeck, of Otley, and Matthew Downs, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, when they were treated to a magical day in Lapland.

Charity When You Wish Upon A Star took the two youngsters to Lapland because of the traumas they have both suffered.

Danielle has had her hands and the lower half of her legs amputated after she contracted meningitis and Matthew suffers from muscle wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy, complicated by diabetes.

The brave pair met on the plane to Lapland from East Midlands airport and became instant friends.

Seven-year-old Matthew was due to go on the trip last year but was too ill, so the charity kept his place open for this year.

They were treated to a reindeer ride to Lapland's magic forest, had lunch in an ice palace and met Father Christmas and Rudolf.

Danielle's mum Lindsay Pollard said: "She found Lapland lovely, it was a bit cold but it was well worth it. She was pulled by a reindeer in a sleigh.

"It was very magical when she met Santa, he just walked into the restaurant behind her with Rudolf.

"It was an experience of a lifetime. She asked him for a reindeer for Christmas."

Danielle was nominated by paramedic Sharon Page who had been on the trip previously.

General manager of When You Wish Upon A Star, Karen Martt said: "She rang up and asked if Danielle could come on the trip. She explained she had been quite poorly and we said yes.

"Matthew was supposed to go on our trip last year, but he was too poorly, so this year we kept a place open for him. It was a very magical day for them, a real dream come true."

The Lapland trip included two nights in a hotel and a special Christmas party before they left. They were treated to a party by Pogo the Clown.

Matthew's grandma Jean Osborne said: "They are both children of courage. Despite all the odds they are both carrying on with their lives. They went on a reindeer and husky ride. When Santa came in to see them it was like a fairy tale.

"Matthew found it hard to walk but he didn't stop smiling the whole time. It was brilliant, absolutely wonderful, we all felt like children.

"It was covered in snow and all we could see for miles were Christmas trees. There was a restaurant made from ice, with lights inside the ice and there were 20ft tall real snowmen."

Danielle will be having a quiet Christmas with her family after her six months of turmoil.

Lindsay added: "Danielle has got her prosthetic legs now, but she finds them difficult. She can walk in them with help, but she doesn't like them.

"We are just looking forward to having a nice quiet family Christmas together, just me and Chris and the children."

Matthew has already had an early present after his grandma raised the first £132 towards a wheelchair.

Jean added: "Matthew is finding it hard to walk now and he needs a wheelchair. We can get him one for £2,500 so I held a raffle in Otley to raise some money towards it."

The raffle, at the Buttercross last Friday, raised £132.