A LITTLE boy described by his parents as "the face" of the life-limited children's charity Acorns has lost his fight for life.

Only a few weeks before the opening of the £4m Worcester hospice for which he and his family had worked tirelessly, 11-year-old Robert Davison died.

Parents Sally and Bill Davison described Robert, who was crippled with a virulent type of cerebral palsy and was a quadriplegic, as a "colourful bright and happy" youngster with the "smile of an angel".

"Doctors said he was unlikely to live past the age of eight so we feel lucky we had those extra years with him," said Sally, aged 42, of Worboys Road, St John's.

"He was prone to chest infections and normally he'd have antibiotics and fight it. But he got another one and I think this time he decided it was his time to go."

Robert passed away at Worcestershire Royal Hospital last Friday.

"It's so surreal that he has gone. I keep expecting he'll come home, but I know he won't," added Sally.

He visited the Bath Road hospice, due to open in March, just a week before his death.

The youngster was helped by Acorns hospice in Selly Oak, Birmingham, since the age of two and the family has raised more than £80,000 for the Worcester project.

"It was so poignant that, so soon after visiting the hospice, he became ill and lost his battle," said John Overton, chief executive of Acorns.

"Robert and his parents will always have a very special place in the hearts of all those associated with Acorns."

Robert, who leaves a brother Peter, aged eight, will stay in a special room at the Selly Oak Acorns until his funeral on Wednesday, at 10am at St John's Church, followed by a committal at Worcester Crematorium.

"Everyone is welcome to attend and we expect hundreds of people to come because he was such a popular little boy," said electrician Bill, aged 43.

"We're asking everyone to wear colour because he was such a colourful, bright and happy person."

The family is asking for donations to Acorns instead of funeral flowers.