ASTRONAUT Major Tim Peake has shared tales of solitude from space with a five-year-old cancer patient who is being kept in isolation during her treatment.

The Briton made a special video call to patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, including Maddison Webb, from Basildon, who is recovering after a bone marrow transplant to treat acute lymphocyte leukaemia.

Major Peake and Maddison discussed being separated from their families and restricted diets during the exchange, a hospital spokesman said.

The astronaut was telling the Basildon youngster about the food he eats on the International Space Station (ISS) as she prepares to eat food for the first time in more than a month.

"Maddison has been in isolation at GOSH for five-and-a-half weeks now and so she was very excited to speak to space from her room," her mother Stephanie said.

"She has just started on a special diet of milkshakes and packaged food after her treatment, which she doesn't like very much. Tim Peake must have to eat different foods and have protein shakes and so I'm hoping it will encourage her to drink them."

Major Peake spoke to around 30 other patients at the renowned children's hospital in London and showed them around the ISS.

He also gave training tips after running the London Marathon using an on-board treadmill - the hospital is encouraging people to take part in a 5K family fun run, the RBC Race for the Kids, on May 15 in aid of the hospital.

After the call, Major Peake tweeted: "Thanks to the wonderful children & staff at @GreatOrmondSt for the great link-up yesterday. I loved sharing the #ISS & Earth views with you"

Major Peake travelled to the ISS in December, along with American Tim Kopra and Russian commander Yuri Malenchenko.

Last week, it was announced that the trio will return to Earth on June 18 - almost two weeks later than originally planned.

The former Army officer blasted into space five months ago and in January became the first British person to walk in space.

On Friday, he became the first person to remotely control a rover robot back on Earth from space.