The parents of Charlie Gard are "devastated" by the High Court decision which will allow doctors to end his life support.

After a week in court, the couple from Bedfont were given the heartbreaking news on Tuesday (April 11) afternoon.

Chris Gard, and Connie Yates, are struggling to understand why they were not given the opportunity to at least give their baby son the chance of treatment.

Solicitor Laura Hobey-Hamsher said the couple were "devastated" by the High Court decision about ending his life-support and were struggling to understand why the judge had not "at least given Charlie the chance of treatment".

Charlie Gard's JustGiving page has hit its £1.2m target

Mr Justice Francis told the High Court his decision was made with the "heaviest of hearts" but with "complete conviction" for Charlie's best interests.

Giving his ruling, he had decided Charlie should be allowed to die with dignity, but praised the little boy's parents for their campaign and paid tribute to their devotion.

He said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts, but with complete conviction for Charlie's best interests, that I find it is in Charlie's best interests that I accede to these applications and rule that Great Ormond Street may lawfully withdraw all treatment save for palliative care to permit Charlie to die with dignity.

"I want to thank the team of experts and carers at Great Ormond Street, and others who cannot be named, for the extraordinary care that they have provided to this family.

"Most importantly of all, I want to thank Charlie's parents for their brave and dignified campaign on his behalf, but more than anything to pay tribute to their absolute dedication to their wonderful boy, from the day that he was born."

Connie Yates mother of Charlie Gard,and Chris Gard the babies father at the High Court. Judge ruled to turn off Charlie's life support machine

Charlie, born on August 4, 2016, suffers from a rare genetic condition - mitochondrial disease - and has been treated by doctors and specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

However due to his condition which includes irreversible brain damage, doctors say he should be moved to a palliative care regime and removed from life support.

His parents disagreed and wanted the chance to take him to the US for experimental treatment trial, and raised £1.2million through GoFundMe, thanks to the generosity of the public, to fund the treatment.

A GoFundMe spokesman said officials would have discussions with Charlie's parents about what would happen to the money.

He said: "We'll be speaking privately to the family in the next few days about what they want to do and how we can support them."

The case was taken to the Family Division of the High Court last week, where both side represented their case to the judge.

The case concluded today, with a decision by Mr Justice Francis to allow doctors to remove Charlie's life support.

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android now!