A TWO-YEAR-OLD and his tiny ticker has become the beating heart of London as his heart rate monitor is linked to Covent Garden’s Christmas lights.

For 24 hours the festive lights that decorate Seven Dials have been beating in time with Billy Hopkins heart.

The youngster, from Bicester, was born with a hole in his heart and its arteries connected to the opposite chambers.

This meant, at just seven days old, Billy needed life-saving, 13-hour open-heart surgery to fix the hole and arteries, plus spent the first five weeks of his life in hospital and countless check-ups since.

Now his family, working with the charity Tiny Tickers, want to raise awareness of childhood heart conditions and remind people to spare a thought for those less fortunate this Christmas.

Mother-of-two Rebecca Hopkin, said: “It [the Christmas campaign] has been really emotional in two ways really.

“One, obviously you get all the memories come flooding back and sort of end up reliving it.

“But two, to think about where we are now and how far we have come.

“We can now spend Christmas at home but there are lots of families that miss out on the magic because they are in hospital or at home inside waiting for surgery away from all the bugs of winter.”

The family are raising awareness with Tiny Tickers which has linked up the Christmas lights in Seven Dials London with Billy’s heart rate monitor.

By taking his average heart rate at 111bpm, the Christmas lights are set to beat in time.

Mrs Hopkin added: “The key message we are trying to get out there is to think about those less fortunate than ourselves.

“Some people focus on material things but how many of us actually stop and think of all the other people like Billy over Christmas who are at home or in hospital poorly.

“The lights are just a little reminder to make people stop and think about what is going on behind the scenes.”

The Christmas lights were beating in Seven Dials London from 4pm on Thursday, for the next 24 hours.

The Hopkin family have family heading along to record the lights show before plans to enjoy a family Christmas together.

The youngster is fighting fit and has recently been signed off for a year from hospital check-ups.

Mrs Hopkin said: “He is a crazy, loving hyperactive two and half year old.

“It was so wonderful when the consultant said ‘see you ina years time’ as that will be the longest Billy has ever gone. Fingers crossed he won’t need any further surgery and it is just about keeping watch now.”

For more information on Tiny Tickers charity and its work to help improve the early detection and care of babies with serious heart conditions