LITTLE Bradley Lowery had the chance to rub shoulders with some of the biggest stars in sport after being invited to be a guest of honour at this years Sports Personality of the Year event.

The five-year-old, who has captured the hearts of people across the country, attended the ceremony in Birmingham last night and met among others, England manager and former Middlesbrough manager and player Gareth Southgate.

Bradley, from Blackhall Colliery, in County Durham, is battling neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer.

The Northern Echo:

Bradley Lowery gives the thumbs up at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. Picture: PA

His parents, Gemma and Carl, got the call on Friday inviting them to last night’s ceremony.

A post on Bradley’s social media page said: “We are very honoured about this and overwhelmed.

“Cards and presents are still coming in and I’d like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

“It has been a welcome distraction from our reality.”

It comes following a whirlwind couple of weeks for the little boy, who had the chance to score a goal against Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic ahead of their match with Sunderland on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Bradley's supporters are hoping a charity single recorded for him will make it to Christmas number one after it shot into the top 20 this week.

Our Superhero (A Christmas Wish) was recorded by LIV 'n' G, a duo made up of Hartlepool sisters Olivia Crawford, 15, and Georgia Fletcher, 22.

It was released this week and is already in the top 20 of the iTunes chart.

Leesa Crawford, their mum, said: "I can't believe it. We never thought in a million years it would reach the chart.

"The nation has really fallen in love with Bradley. It would be fantastic if it could get to number one for Christmas."

The duo sang the song at a lantern release at Hartlepool Marina on Sunday night and are due to help friends of the family open Christmas cards for Bradley at Blackhall Community Centre on Thursday.

He has received more than 28,000 cards from well-wishers.

Bradley was diagnosed with the disease when he was two and was in remission following two years of chemotherapy.

After relapsing in June, friends of the family have been trying to raise £700,000 for treatment in America.

But his tumour has now grown, meaning the pioneering therapy will not save his life.

His family plan to use the money not spent on Bradley's treatment to set up a foundation trust in his name to help other children with cancer.

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards were also attended by a number of North-East Athletes, they included Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, County Durham Olympic gymnast Amy Tinkler and Harrogate gold medal winning diver Jack Laugher.