Christmas came early for nine children suffering from cancer with a trip to Disneyland Paris earlier this month, thanks to an “unexpected” £5,000 donation from a High Wycombe couple.

Flo and Gary Styles donated the funds to the Thomas Ball Children’s Cancer Fund for its 12th annual trip, with the donation being matched by Marlow company Dun and Bradstreet, taking the total to £10,000.

The children, most of whom were put forward by Stoke Mandeville and John Radcliffe hospitals, and their families, were treated to a “magical” three day break at the resort ahead of Christmas.

On the day of the trip, Euro Star came to the rescue of the group, providing 43 alternative seats after they missed their planned train due to an accident on the A40.

A charity trustee also volunteered to take on a 700 kilometre round trip after one of the families left a bag containing their passports and money on the train.

The Prestwood-based charity was set up in 1999 by the parents of Thomas Ball, then aged nine, who had undergone almost two years of gruelling treatment for a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma.

Sadly Thomas, who was a pupil at The Misbourne School in Great Missenden, died from the disease in 2003 when the cancer returned after being in remission for three years.

Mum Elaine said: "The trip is always very popular and it is a privilege to be around such inspirational and courageous families but we do need to limit the number of children that we can take each year as it is very expensive and we are only a small charity.

“We would like to thank Flo and Gary Styles for their fantastic support and Dun and Bradstreet for matching their donation making the trip possible this year and making dreams come true for these very deserving children.”