Having one child diagnosed with a fatal illness is enough heartbreak for a family to bear.

But this month the Carroll family have suffered fresh pain, after learning a second of their children has a terminal disease.

Lucy and Mike Carroll's lives were left devastated in February when their four-year-old son Ollie was diagnosed with Late Infantile Batten Disease (LIBD) after suffering a seizure.

Now the couple, from Poynton, Cheshire, have been told their two-year-old daughter Amelia also has the degenerative condition.

LIBD causes children to lose their speech, mobility and eyesight as they get older, and many sufferers do not survive past the age of 12.

Mrs Carroll, 29, said the family were struggling to come to terms with the latest blow.

She said: 'I don't even know how to describe the pain that we are feeling right now.

'Amelia has just turned two we thought she would have the rest of her life in front of her.

'I have dreamed of taking her to ballet class, of doing our nails, hair and make up together, talking about boys, seeing her get married being there when she had her own baby. All of this will never happen.

'Amelia is a happy little girl she is full of life, it is so painful to look at her and know what she is going to have to go through.'

The family had already begun the devastating process of creating a wish list to make as many happy memories as possible in his short life, and now they will do the same for Amelia.

Ollie's wishlist included a trip to Disney World Florida, a helicopter ride, and to meet his favourite Liverpool FC players, the Macclesfield Express reports.

Mr and Mrs Carroll now also have an anxious wait to test Ollie and Amelia's two brothers, aged six and eight, for the disease. 

Mrs Carroll said: 'How are my older boys expected to get through this they have to watch as their little brother becomes more and more poorly?

'He will lose his abilities one by one until one day his poor body won't be able to take anymore.

'They then have to watch their little sister who they love so much, who they protect so much, go through the exact same thing.'

Only five to six children are diagnosed with late-infantile Batten disease each year in the UK, according to the Batten Disease Family Association.

Usually the first symptom of the condition is epilepsy, and while seizures can be controlled with medicine, they often recur and become difficult to control.

Children tend to become unsteady on their feet, falling more frequently, and slowly the children become unable to walk, play and speak.

By the age of six years, most will be completely dependent on families and carers for all of their daily needs and many will suffer frequent chest infections.

They may need a feeding tube and their arms and legs may become stiff.

As the disease is incurable, most will not live to see their teenage years.

Since being told their children's prognosis, the Carrolls have been buoyed by message of support and pledges to fundraise to pay for research to find a cure to the disease.

The couple have pledged to make every moment count for their children and continue their social media campaign 'Ollie's Army' to raise awareness of the condition.

Among the fundraising events is a charity bike ride setting from Ollie's school Vernon primary to Snowdon in Wales on May 2.

The 11-strong group will then cycle to the summit, stay the night and then ride back to Poynton.