INSPIRATIONAL children were amazed by the sight of Father Christmas visiting their homes to congratulate them for their bravery and kindness.  

The 2015 Evening Mail Christmas Star winners were spellbound when they answered the door to find Santa on their doorstep.

The bravery winners are siblings Connie and Joe Elson, and the kindness winner was Oscar Holt, with his little brother getting a special mention for bravery. 

Christmas Stars, sponsored by Heath's Toymaster, in Dalton Road, Barrow, celebrates courageous and selfless children in our community. Heath's provides beautiful toys for the winners and nominated children who have featured in the Evening Mail.

Santa surprised Connie, seven, and Joe, five, at their Cark home. 

The Elson family are going all out to make this Christmas as special as possible for their brave children, as they don’t know how many more they will have together.

The siblings are battling the rare and incurable genetic condition metachromatic leukodystrophy. 

Over the last 18 months, this cruel, life-limiting disease has seen the fun-loving, intelligent and witty Connie become totally dependent. She can no longer walk or talk and requires a feeding tube. Despite the aggression of the disease, Connie keeps a huge smile on her face.

Connie and Joe’s parents, Nicola and Ian, are both carriers of the recessive gene. Joe was also diagnosed with the condition, but at a pre-symptomatic stage he was offered pioneering treatment in Italy as part of a clinical trial. Unfortunately Connie’s condition is too progressed for this.

The family spent last Christmas and new year at hospital in Italy for Joe to have ground-breaking gene therapy treatment. He had a bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy and spent six weeks in isolation. 

The family have just returned from the Italian hospital where Joe's assessments were all very good. He is only the 15th child world-wide to have this treatment and the family prays for a cure. 

There were hugs for Santa from the delighted children.  They kept some presents for Christmas Day but opened a huge ball shaped parcel. Inside was a giant teddy, which they named 'Snow Pringle'. Joe said: "He's fluffy and squidgy and I'm going to cuddle him, thank you." 

Proud mum Nicola Elson, 39, said: "We can't believe Father Christmas is in our house. 

"This is amazing, brilliant, awesome, and fantastic, the smile on their faces is wonderful. What a way to start Christmas, it's perfect with a visit from the man himself, thank you."  

The next stop was Walney. Oscar, four, is the ultimate big brother. He has sacrificed elements of his childhood to be at the side of his best pal, Jasper, and help care for him.

Jasper, two-and-a-half, has life-limiting conditions and has spent most of his young life in and out of hospital. He receives round-the-clock care from his family for his multiple serious health conditions. Jasper was born with a cleft palate, conjoined kidneys, a small jaw and a neurological disorder. He also has mitochondrial disease, a condition which means cells in his body are unable to produce the energy they need to function.

Oscar has seen paramedics rush to his Walney home to give his brother life-saving.

The family has just returned from Alder Hey Children's Hospital. They will be at home for Christmas, but back at the hospital in the New Year. 

Jasper was amazed by Santa's soft beard and Jasper was keen to thank Santa and get him to join in with playing with the toys.   

Their proud mum Gemma Moorby, 29, said: "This is fantastic and so special to have Santa at our house, what great recognition, thank you. We will always remember this visit."  

Father Christmas spread more festive cheer by congratulating the Christmas Star nominees who have featured in the Evening Mail over the last two months.

They enjoyed a special Christmas party receiving a gift and certificates from Santa, and meeting Buddy and Jovie from Walney School's Elf the Musical production.