Coronation Street star Simon Gregson visits Forces charity that helped Lee Rigby’s son and backs our Smiles at Christmas campaign to help needy kids

CORONATION Street star Simon Gregson went to see the marvellous work done by Scotty’s Little Soldiers at a magical party.

The actor, pictured with his son Henry Teddy and some of the mums and children, was the star guest at the bash along with the 268 children who lost a parent serving in the forces.

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Simon, 42, who plays Steve McDonald in the ITV soap, said: “I’ve had family who’ve served in the Armed Forces so I wanted to help.

“The charity has been a part of my life for five years and it’s very inspiring. Here, the kids know they are not alone.”

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Lee Rigby’s son Jack, traumatised after his father’s murder in 2013, first smiled and played again with other children at a previous party.

He was back again, enjoying a carnival of children’s entertainers, rooms dedicated to Hogwarts, snowbound Narnia, Mission: Impossible and Peter Pan.

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Asked what he had enjoyed the most at the event, Jack gleefully said: “Chocolate and rolling in the snow.”

The six-year-old is unrecognisable from the traumatised little boy who was silent for months after the death of his father.

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Lee's widow and Jack's mum Rebecca told of her son's ordeal: "He regressed to the point where he went back to being a baby. He stopped eating food and went back to taking the bottle.

“He had to go back into a nappy. He stopped talking and was grunting all the time.”

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Tears ran down Rebecca’s face as she described how that day, for the first time since his dad was killed in a London street, Jack became himself again.

The 33-year-old recalled: “At Scotty’s Christmas party I watched as Jack ran around with the other children, meeting Father Christmas and going on rides.

"He was back to smiling. He was happy again. Scotty’s gave him back the chance to be a child.”

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related stories

'ANGELS TOOK DADDY AWAY'

Scotty's Little Soldiers charity was mum-of-two's lifeline after losing her army husband

SCOTTY’S KEPT PHOEBE SMILING

Young girl describes how charity helped support her after Navy hero dad died from cancer

DEAN-GLE BELLS

EastEnders legend Dean Gaffney backs The Sun’s Smiles at Christmas campaign

‘MY LIFE CAME CRASHING DOWN’

How girl who lost her soldier dad turned her grief into a passion for fundraising

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Text: To give £2, text KIDS55 2 to 70070. You can change the amount to £3, £4, £5 or £10 by changing the last figure to 3, 4, 5 or 10.

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You can donate new or used toys in good condition at 1,370 branches of McColl’s convenience stores.

Toys “R” Us will accept new toys only — look for special Sun trolleys near entrances.

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