AFTER travelling 2,000 miles to Lapland, children from Notts sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer at the top of their voices as they waited for Santa to appear.

And as he pulled up with his reindeer and every face lit up, it was worth every mile of the journey.

Seven youngsters from the county, battling life threatening diseases, were among a group of children who saw their wish come true – to see the real Father Christmas.

Four year-old Lois Lodkin-Brown, of Keyworth, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in August, was among about 80 children who visited Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland, yesterday.

Mum Cheryl said: "We'll have to spend a lot of time in hospital over Christmas so it's a treat for her before she starts her major chemotherapy."

But for others, the trip organised by children's charity, When You Wish upon a Star, marks what is hopefully the end of a long battle with a major illness.

This time last year, 14 year-old Laura Pearson, from Bilsthorpe, was too ill to make the trip after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

But in April, a bone marrow match was found and after a successful stem cell transplant she is now in remission.

Mum Beverley Pearson, who was on the trip with her husband Steve, said: "It's so magical, it means everything to us. I can't put it in words.

"She's been so ill and now to have her practically back to normal is just amazing."

The group was welcomed by a shaman and before Father Christmas made his grand arrival the children were whisked off to Merkku Forest.

Reindeer and huskies pulled sleighs, quad snowmobiles and what can only be described as snow jet-skis.

With the forest covered in thick snow, and temperatures a freezing minus 26 degrees, it was a truly magical setting.

And when the cold really began to bite the children warmed themselves up by blazing fires in wooden huts, sipping hot chocolates.

Laura, who enjoyed the husky ride most, said: "It was amazing. It was nice not to be in my wheelchair."

Four-year-old Thomas Wilkinson, who suffers from 20 severe allergies, thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Mum Carolyn Wilkinson said: "It's just mega, it's absolutely brilliant for children and their parents.

"I think Thomas has really enjoyed it and I'm hoping he will remember it forever."

Nicola Hill, of Long Eaton, mum of Dylan Osler, nine, who was diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma and is also autistic, said it was the holiday he hadn't had since being ill.

Ashley Boag, 16, of Selston, was on the trip with mum Michelle Austin and her two sisters Mia and Georgja .

She was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in April 2009.

Speaking in Lapland, she said: "Last Christmas I just wanted to sleep but I feel better this year. It's something I've always wanted to do."

Also on the trip were Mandy and John Cusick, of Calverton, with their four-year-old son Roman, who had acute myeloid leukemia twice.

Now feeling better, after a stem cell transplant in May, he was able to really enjoy the trip and Mandy said: "I'm so excited for him."