By Doug Kennedy BBC News Online

The parents of a terminally ill child at the centre of the campaign for a new children's hospice have thanked Scotland for its support after the facility was given the go-ahead.

Six-year-old Robyn Watterson, from Knightswood, Glasgow, has Hurler Disease, a rare metabolic disorder, and is only expected to live for a few more years.

Until now the only hospice provision for children has been at Rachel House in Kinross.

Parents Gilbert and Sylvia Watterson say the decision to site the second hospice near Loch Lomond at Balloch has brought a boost for the family.

The Loch Lomond and The Trossach National Park planning committee voted to go against the local plan and grant planning permission.

We're overwhelmed, overwhelmed, thank you Scotland

Gilbert Watterson Robyn's father

Gilbert Watterson told BBC News Online: "It's all we've wished for the last three-and-half years.

"When Robyn was born I thought as a parent for the first time you always think a child is going to bring peace and harmony to the world.

"When I found out her life was going to be so short I was absolutely devastated.

"We obviously started using Rachel House and they sort of spurred me on and I realised other people were living short lives and still had a purpose and I think Robyn has proved her purpose today.

"We're overwhelmed, overwhelmed, thank you Scotland."

Christmas present

Derek House, vice chairman of the Children's Hospice Association Scotland (Chas), said: "It's great for us it's great for the families.

"It's going to solve the capacity problem of Rachel House. It's just wonderful - we couldn't ask for a better Christmas present.

"Hopefully we'll be on site early in the New Year, and our target completion to get children in will be April 2004."

Robyn suffers from a degenerative disease

Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, Danny McCafferty, welcomed the move as a triumph of the heart over the head.

"As a nation the people of Scotland are very shy when showing our feelings, we tend to suppress them, we pride ourselves in terms of hard, rational, political decisions," he said.

"But there are times we should show our emotions and I think today was one of these times.

"It's now time for the people of Scotland not just to clap and say hurray, now they've got their planning permission - it's now time for the people of Scotland to put their hands in their pockets and deliver it."