CHEEKY chappy Martin Bennett met Prince Harry and gave him babysitting tips for his new Royal niece or nephew.

Martin, 14, of Parsons Heath, Colchester, was at the glitzy 10th annual WellChild Awards bash at the Hilton hotel in London’s Park Lane to scoop his gong for courage.

The Gilberd School pupil has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and was named Inspirational Young Person for his positive attitude towards living with the condition.

It means his muscles are so weak, it affects his ability to move, walk and breathe and he is virtually confined to a wheelchair.

Prince Harry, due to become an uncle for the second time after the Duchess of Cambridge recently revealed she is pregnant again, met winners including Martin.

Martin said: "I thought with two of them to babysit he might need some extra help, so I gave him a DVD he could stick on to distract one of them.

“He thought it was a great idea.

"I also told him a joke, but I think it's one for his Army mates and not for his granny."

The ceremony is hosted by TV presenter Vernon Kay and attended by the charity's celebrity supporters including Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne, comedian Russell Howard and pop singer Pixie Lott.

The awards recognise the courage of children and young people living with serious illnesses as well as the dedicated families, nurses and doctors who care for them.

See Wednesday's Gazette for the full story