A young trend setter is attempting to break down the stigma surrounding hearing aids after she had her favourite musician printed onto the device.

Mia Warren, who is eight, now has a photo of Ed Sheeran attached to her hearing aid after she was given the chance to personalise her ear moulds by staff at Broomfield Hospital.

The youngster, who is from Great Notley, is one of the first people to have a picture of a person printed on their hearing device and opted for the Suffolk superstar after she saw him perform live during his latest tour.

Dad Luke said: "Mia was more excited than when she opened her Christmas presents.

"We didn’t think having a picture of Ed in there would be possible but the staff made it happen. Mia actually passed her hearing test when she was young but we knew when she started talking that something wasn’t quite right as I have a deeper voice and she struggled to hear me.

"The second we came to see the team here (at Broomfield) it was incredible and everyone was super helpful. Mia actually looks forward to coming here.

"For Mia, having Ed Sheeran in her hearing aid makes it cool. Now kids are talking about the fact Ed Sheeran is in her mould rather than, ‘Oh, you wear a hearing aid.’"

The paediatric audiology team at Broomfield aim to encourage children to personalise their hearing aids with bright colours in an effort to ease any concerns they may have about wearing one.

Audiologist Kirsten Bradley said: "It gives the child ownership.

"They haven’t got any control over someone telling them they have to wear a hearing aid, but now they can say, ‘If I have to wear one, I want it to be this colour or have this picture in it."

According to the Mid Essex Hospital Trust, 2 in 1,000 children are born with some form of hearing impairment.

Hearing aids can be fitted to babies as young as six weeks old.

Ms Bradley added: "The earlier you test and identify the hearing loss, the better the outcome is for the child’s speech and language and communication development.

"With the right technology, a child’s hearing shouldn’t be a barrier."