AN eight-year-old boy who is losing his sight was invited to build a den on the stage at York Theatre Royal.

Fred Howe from Haxby created a wish list of experiences he hoped to tick off before losing his vision to a rare progressive eye disease.

Headlands School pupil Fred has already spent the day as a marine biologist, climbed up Big Ben and met Mickey Mouse.

And the staff at York Theatre Royal invited Fred and his sister, Eva, to a backstage tour where they met the puppets used in the current production of The Secret Garden and explored the set before building a den in the middle of the stage.

Fred was full of praise for the staff’s den-making skills, and when the shelter was complete the entire cast of the production joined him on stage to show him how to use the puppets and chat to him about his wish list.

Mum Karen Newell said it was a fantastic afternoon for Fred and Eva, adding: “People really want to share their experiences with Fred and bring them to him in a way that’s accessible.

"He’s lived it today, he’s touched the puppets and had a multi-sensory experience. It means that when he watches the play he can enjoy it more.”

She added that the family are trying to enjoy as many experiences together as they can, so that Fred can build up a visual memory bank.

“We have just come back from Warwick Castle.

"It was our first night ever camping so we did it in style,” she said.

“They were lovely and it was amazing. We saw the Dragon Slayer and the star of the show put Fred on a jousting horse.”

He also spent a day feeding stingrays and being a marine biologist at Scarborough Sea Life Centre and is looking forward to spending a day as a zookeeper.

Fred suffers from familial exudative vitreoretinopathy which mean he can only perceive light in one eye and can only see up to two metres in front of him with his other eye.