The parents of terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard are considering their next move after a High Court judge ruled that doctors could stop providing life-support treatment.

On Tuesday (April 11) Mr Justice Francis decided that eight-month-old Charlie, who suffers from a rare genetic condition and has brain damage, should move to a palliative care regime and be allowed to "die with dignity".

Lawyers said Chris Gard and Connie Yates, who wanted their son to have a treatment trial in America, were devastated.

They said the couple, from Bedfont, wanted to challenge Mr Justice Francis's ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Hospital bosses say doctors will continue to provide life-support treatment until appeal decisions have been made.

Specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital had asked the judge to rule that withdrawing life-support treatment would be lawful.

Mr Gard and Miss Yates wanted to take Charlie to the United States for experimental therapy.

Parents of Charlie Gard, Connie Yates and Chris Gard 'devastated' at High Court judge's decision

They had launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website and raised more than £1.2 million to pay for treatment in the USA after more than 80,000 people pledged money.

Mr Justice Francis granted Great Ormond Street's application after analysing the case at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London over three days.

He said he had reached his conclusion with the "heaviest of hearts" but with "complete conviction" that a move to palliative care was in Charlie's best interests.

Mr Justice Francis paid tribute to the couple and said they had shown "absolute dedication" to their "wonderful boy".

The judge, who had visited Charlie at Great Ormond Street, said it has been his "sad duty" to apply the law relating to a terminally-ill child's best interests when doctors and parents could not agree.

"I know this is the darkest day for Charlie's parents who have done everything they possibly could for him," he said.

"My heart goes out to them as I know it does for every person who has listened to this tragic case."

He said the couple had done what any parent would in trying to find a cure and treatment.

Mr Gard and Miss Yates sank their heads into their hands and wept as the judge announced his decision.

They left the court building without listening to him spell out the detailed reasoning behind his ruling.

Barrister Pravin Fernado, who represented the couple, told Mr Justice Francis that they wanted to appeal.

The couple's solicitor, Laura Hobey-Hamsher, said their immediate priority was to spend time with Charlie.

She said they had three weeks to formulate an appeal and wanted time to consider their next step.

"Chris and Connie are devastated by today's decision," she said after the hearing.

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

"They are struggling to understand why the court has not at least given Charlie the chance of treatment in America."

She said the couple were "profoundly grateful" for people's "help and generosity", and added: "The support and phenomenal kindness of countless people has been a source of strength."

Mr Justice Francis heard that Charlie, who was born on August 4, had a form of mitochondrial disease, a condition which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Specialists in the USA had offered a therapy called nucleoside.

But the judge said experts were agreed that the treatment could not reverse Charlie's structural brain damage.

He said experimentation might benefit medical science but could not benefit Charlie.

Mr Justice Francis said Great Ormond Street doctors had considered the experimental treatment on offer in America but decided that it would not help the youngster.

He said the case had never been "about money".

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!