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The Pope has voiced support for seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans after the youngster's parents lost a legal fight to continue his life-support treatment.

Tom Evans and Kate James, from Liverpool, have been at the centre of a high-profile battle to keep alive their 22-month-old son, who has a rare degenerative neurological condition.

A High Court judge ruled that Alder Hey Children's Hospital can stop life-support treatment for the little boy, against the wishes of his parents, after doctors said continuing it was "unkind, unfair and inhumane".

Mr Evans has said doctors want to switch Aflie's ventilator off as early as Friday.

In a message on Twitter, Pope Francis said: "It is my sincere hope that everything necessary may be done in order to continue compassionately accompanying little Alfie Evans, and that the deep suffering of his parents may be heard.

"I am praying for Alfie, for his family and for all who are involved."

Alfie's parents want to explore further treatment for their son at a hospital in Rome.

They hope that specialists at the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital will be able to pinpoint what is wrong with the toddler.

The couple had asked judges at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to intervene after losing legal fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

But a spokesman for the ECHR said judges had declared the application inadmissible and found no appearance of any human rights violation.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Alfie's father Tom claimed his son's condition had improved since having a form of medication reduced.

"We are begging the hospital to continue this process to give us and Alfie the chance to see if he wakes up or improves," he wrote.

The Pope has previously expressed support for Charlie Gard, who was also at the centre of a life support battle.