A dad desperate to hug his disabled daughter again has told how a kind gesture from television personality David Walliams has helped boost their spirits.

Last week, KentOnline shared the heartbreaking account of Brett Martin who has only been able to see his daughter Charlotte once since March due to Covid-19 restrictions.

He said that one of the things helping the non-verbal 33-year-old who has Rett syndrome to cope with their separation is his recordings of her favourite tales by David Walliams.

The devoted dad who would usually visit his daughter at her Deal care home twice a week has recorded over four hours of him reading titles such as Awful Auntie, Bad Dad, Gangsta Granny and Grandpa's Great Escape.

Touched by the article, Mr Walliams reached out to the family and organised for several signed audio books to be sent directly to Charlotte at her Martha Trust home.

Two parcels arrived on Friday and after 72 hours in quarantine, she was allowed to open her gifts from the Britain's Got Talent judge.

They were accompanied by a signed photograph and a personalised note which read: "Hi Charlotte, I am pleased you like my stories. I have enclosed some audiobooks signed for you. I want you to know I am thinking about and sending all my love. David Walliams x.'

Mr Martin, 55, who lives in Minster, said: "This has been such an amazing gesture from David.

"We call Charlotte the Duchess of Deal and being treated like this from David is definitely very fitting.

"His stories have given her so many hours of enjoyment throughout the pandemic.

"Now she has some personalised ones from him, I’m sure it will make her days even brighter.

"It’s certainly made her dad a very, very happy dad!"

Mr Martin cared for Charlotte until she was 18 and then she moved into residential care.

Being prohibited from seeing her, especially hugging her, he says, has caused an emotional void he says he is desperate to fill.

They keep in touch via FaceTime with Charlotte often hugging her iPad. She also has a pillow her father made with his photo on to comfort her.

He has urged the government to take swift action to rectify this situation for families ahead of the festive season by distributing rapid testing kits to all homes nationwide.

He said: "Science has caught up and this is the turning point. We have the rapid testing. I think now is the time to give residents like Charlotte a really important part of their life back."

Mr Walliams, 49, is the biggest selling children’s author to have started writing since the year 2000.

He is also known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series Little Britain, Rock Profile and Come Fly With Me.

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