A schoolgirl who is battling a degenerative condition has ticked the biggest wish off her bucket list, meeting her idol Matt Terry, thanks to a kind-hearted stranger.

Nine-year-old Mia Parnell has dreamed of meeting singing sensation Matt Terry since he first appeared on the X Factor and won the talent show in 2016. Mia followed his success and put meeting him at the very top of her bucket list.

As the youngster has been battling the rare condition, which has left her in pain and unable to go to school full time, Mia got the opportunity to meet music mogul Simon Cowell; she spent the entire time with him asking about Matt.

So when it was announced that the pop star was coming to Burton to take part in BurtonFest 2017, the Burton Mail stepped in to help make the magic happen.

After approaching the event organiser Adam Cornes, the news of the meet and greet with her idol was broken to Mia with a personal video message from the talent show winner.

X Factor winner Matt Terry will be coming to Burton
X Factor winner Matt Terry will be coming to Burton

Mr Cornes, who works full-time as a police officer, said helping Mia was a no-brainer. The 38-year-old, who has two daughters himself, said: “It is just human nature to help if you can. I am lucky enough to be in this position to make it happen for Mia and it means so much to her so I am all for it.”

Mia, who cried when Matt Terry was announced as the winner of the ITV's X Factor, is a keen singer who often sings her guinea pigs to sleep.

When asked if she would like to meet Matt before getting the surprise, she said: “I would love to meet him. I would hug him and have a picture with him. I had a dream about it last night and now it is coming true. I want him to be my friend. He is a brilliant singer.”

Her mum Sarah, 40, said the wish to meet Matt was at "the very top of the bucket list so it is a massive thing that has been ticked off and it is just the boost she needs".

She said: "I want to say a huge thank-you to Adam and to the Burton Mail for sorting this out. When she met Simon Cowell all she wanted was to talk about Matt Terry.

"I can't put into words how wonderful this is. Now it has sunk in she is so excited and to see that smile on her face is the best feeling."

Mia was so excited that she asked to watch the video message from Matt Terry “over and over again” and said she will take him a present.

Hatton schoolgirl Mia Parnell's dream to meet popstar Matt Terry will come true thanks to Adam Cornes. Mia is pictured with her mum Sarah and Adam

She said: “I will see what his favourite chocolate is or I will give him one of my brother Callum’s toys.”

Mia will join Matt Terry and global superstars Union J at the National Brewery Centre, in Horninglow Street, on Saturday, July 22.

There will be more than 40 live performances from a whole host of music genres with other confirmed acts including Capital FM's own Roman Kemp, Urban Cookie Collective, Cappella and 90s Explosion.

Mr Cornes said: "This is the first concert Matt has done since the X Factor tour and there will be new music that will be exclusive. He has been really busy working in America, Sweden and all over and it is exiting that we will get to hear all the new stuff before anyone else.

“I have been hosting events showcasing the next generation of singers and bands all over the UK for the last four years.

"As a Burton resident I now want to focus on local artists as well as bringing other talented and headline performers to the town. BurtonFest is an exciting project that will hopefully grow each year and become an amazing annual event."