The family of Archie Battersbee have lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal after losing a High Court bid to have him transferred to a hospice, according to a Christian Concern spokesman.

High Court judge Mrs Justice Theis ruled this morning that the 12-year-old Southend boy cannot be moved and should remain at the Royal London Hospital when treatment is withdrawn.

She also refused permission to appeal against her ruling, after lawyers for the family requested it, but granted a stay on the withdrawal of treatment until 2pm to allow time for an appeal to be lodged.

Read more >>> Archie Battersbee's parents lose High Court bid to move him to hospice

The family have now lodged an appeal directly with the Court of Appeal, a Christian Concern spokesman has said.

A spokesman for the judiciary confirmed that the Court of Appeal has received an application from Archie Battersbee’s family for permission to appeal.

Following the ruling today, Archie’s mother Hollie Dance said: “All our wishes as a family have been denied by the authorities.

“We are broken, but we are keeping going, because we love Archie and refuse to give up on him.”

Archie has been in a coma since he was found unconscious at his home in Southend on April 7 and is being kept alive by a combination of medical interventions at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.