The 23-year-old, who is pregnant with her third child, shivered and dabbed her eyes with a crumpled tissue as Mr Justice Hedley read his 40-minute ruling.

Her husband, Darren, 32, brushed tears from his eyes and held his wife in his arms as he heard the judge rule that 11-month-old Charlotte must be allowed to die the next time she stops breathing.

The couple believe the judge has, in effect, signed their baby’s death warrant, just two weeks before her first birthday on October 21.

But their counsel said that although they are desperately upset at his decision, they will not appeal against it.

Devout Christians, they defied all medical advice in their fight to prolong Charlotte’s life. They hoped that a miracle from God would save her.

Born three months prematurely, Charlotte weighed 1lb (450g) and was so small that she fitted into the palm of her mother’s hand. Doctors say she will spend the rest of her short life in hospital, terribly disabled with severe heart, lung, kidney and brain defects.

Her parents had to wait three months before they could hold her and five months before they could give her a bath. They have sold their story to a national newspaper. Mr Wyatt told the court last week that Charlotte recognised her family and was comforted by their presence.

His wife wept as he told the judge that Charlotte wrapped her hand around his finger when she saw him.

But Mr Justice Hedley gently suggested that it was difficult to tell the difference “between your enjoyment and hers” and that in such cases a child’s grip “may be a spontaneous reflex”.

Charlotte has almost died three times, but each time has been saved by artificial resuscitation on a ventilator. This damaged her lungs further.

The last emergency was a month ago when doctors decided that she was so poorly that, should her condition deteriorate again, it was no longer in her best interests to be put back on a ventilator. They wanted her anxious parents to agree that she should be made as comfortable as possible and allowed to slip away peacefully.

The Wyatts found that impossible to accept.

Mr Wyatt, who has a disabled son from his first marriage, told the court that doctors had given his stepfather just six months to live and he had survived for ten years.

“From my experience I don’t think the doctors know what they are talking about,” he said.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, unable to resolve the disagreement, turned to the High Court to make the decision.

Explore UK News

• Science News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Long hours drive lawyers to drugs
• Darling to resist blanket savings guarantee
• £3m appeal to save Vanbrugh's Baroque gem