BRAVE Alfie Thomas had a reason to smile when a theatre group entertained youngsters at Oxford Children’s Hospital.

He was among patients entertained by The Panto Company, which performed much-loved stories like Three Little Pigs and Charlotte’s Web.

The six-year-old, of West Hunsbury, Northamptonshire, is battling a type of brain tumour which diagnosed in July last year.

Alfie was visiting Tom’s Ward at the John Radcliffe hospital site on Friday for an MRI scan with mum Zoe, dad Danny and brothers Tyrone, 14 and Ryan, 10.

His mother said: “It was really good because it took his mind off having to go for the scan.”

Hospital play specialist Christine Turner said: “Having performances like these helps to ease their level of anxiety and makes their overall patient experience much more positive.”