Actress Sue Johnston has joined families in supporting a children's hospice's Christmas campaign.

The Padgate-born TV star, renowned for her roles in Brookside and The Royle Family, is lending her voice to Claire House Children's Hospice's Christmas advertisement, which aims to raise funds for seriously and terminally ill babies and children in Cheshire.

The advertisement, created by Liverpool-based agency Zut, features animated scenes of Liverpool and Merseyside, with Ms Johnston narrating how the hospice assists families through challenging times while creating cherished memories.

Ms Johnston said: "It’s a real privilege to be part of this year’s Claire House Christmas campaign to help families who are facing tough times.

"I’m in awe of what this wonderful charity does for babies, children and young adults in Cheshire and beyond.

"It warms my heart to know that together, we can bring some joy and smiles to children’s faces, not only at Christmas, but all year round.

"Every donation, no matter how small, helps to make this a magical time for those who need it the most.

"I believe that spreading love and kindness is what Christmas is all about."

The advertisement is part of the hospice's Christmas campaign, which features stories of four families from Cheshire and Merseyside who rely on Claire House.

Mum Francesca Alfonso, whose 10-year-old daughter attends the hospice, said: "We never really know how many Christmases we’ll have with Sienna, so we want to make every Christmas count.

"And Claire House makes that possible.

"Having a child who's terminally ill is hard work.

"I can't just ask anybody to help because they don't know what she needs in the same way.

"But Claire House gives me that relief.

"They’ve become an extension of our family."

Sue Johnston has joined the campaign (Image: Supplied) Fiona, the mother of four-year-old Isla Molloy, also praised the charity.

She said: "Last year, Isla was in hospital for nearly the whole of December.

"But Claire House was there for us, and they came onto the ward to support us.

"They focused on us being able to make memories despite us being in the hospital."

Emmie Wood, a mum of four, said: "With rare conditions like our four-year-old daughter Arla’s you could easily feel very alone, but Claire House offers these services and opens doors for you to meet other families, so you don’t feel so isolated."

Rebecca Flood, whose 12-year-old daughter Sophia has a rare genetic disorder, said: "For us as a family, Claire House is like a comfort blanket.

"They fully understand what we are going through, and they guide us all.

"It’s not just for Sophia and her condition, they ease my anxiety and support us with anything that we’re struggling with."

Claire House offers care for children from Cheshire, Merseyside, and North Wales, with its Liverpool site providing support such as daycare, counselling, and complementary therapies, while its Wirral site serves as a full hospice.

David Pastor, Chief Executive at Claire House, said: "We know the people of Cheshire are amazingly generous and will do what they can to help sick children and their families.

"We urge people to give what they can.

"Money donated this Christmas will ensure we can give the families who come to Claire House a magical Christmas and reach out to other families who desperately need our support in the future."

Mark Hancock, managing director of Zut, said: "Our team loved working on this important campaign, we hope it prompts people to find out more about the ways Claire House can help people across the region and to dig deep and make a difference to the lives of seriously ill children."

The campaign was launched on the charity's social media channels, with radio adverts on local stations throughout the festive season.

For more information or to donate, visit their website or call 0151 343 0883.