The life support of seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans has been withdrawn, his father has said.

The 23-month-old was breathing on his own and with the help of oxygen after his life support was removed on Monday, Tom Evans said, according outside Alder Hey hospital on Tuesday morning, according the BBC. 

Mr Evans, 21, and mother Kate James, 20, have lost another legal appeal after lawyers made a 'last-ditch appeal' against removing his life support.

A High Court judge rejected new arguments heard via telephone link on Monday night.

'[Alfie] is now on oxygen. It's not changing his breathing but it's oxygenating his body,' he said.

'He is still working, he's doing as good as he can but we do need him to be supported in the next hour. It's going to be hard.'

It comes as Pope Francis made a direct appeal for the family's wishes to be heard as they continue to call for him to be taken to the Vatican-run Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome for further treatment.

The UK Supreme Court ruled on Friday that 'there is no hope of his ever getting better' and further treatment was futile.

But his parents have insisted recovery is possible and want to take him to Rome for further treatment.

Now the Italian government have granted Alfie citizenship in the hope that he can be 'immediately' transferred from the Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool where he is currently being treated.

'Foreign minister Angelino Alfano and interior minister Marco Minniti have granted citizenship to little Alfie,' a statement from the Italian ministry on Monday night read.

'The Italian government hopes that in this way, being an Italian citizen will enable the immediate transfer of the child to Italy.'

Barrister Paul Diamond, of the Christian Legal Centre, argued for more time because the Italian government wanted to intervene.

But Mr Justice Hayden dismissed Mr Diamond's application, saying it amounted to a 'last-ditch appeal'.

'Alfie is a British citizen, he is undoubtedly habitually resident in the UK,' he said.

'He falls therefore under the jurisdiction of the High Court.' 

Last night protestors tried to storm Alder Hey hospital but were blocked by police who formed a line guarding the entrance. The demonstration then retreated and began to chant 'Save Alfie Evans'. 

Mariella Enoc, the president of Bambino Gesù, flew to Liverpool on Monday to offer her support and help facilitate a transfer to Rome but said her offer was rebuffed. 

'I feel totally impotent. I'm here and I'm ready to do whatever they ask me. The hospital knows I'm here but they told me they don't want to talk to me,' she said according to the Telegraph.

The tragic case has attracted international attention and Sir Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough and a Catholic, said the foreign office 'must act quickly and let Alfie live'.

It comes after the family's lawyers, the Christian Legal Centre, argued Alfie was being unlawfully detained in the hospital after Mr Hayden ruled it was Alfie's 'best interests' to have his life support removed. It added that Alfie's best interests, not his parents wishes, were the 'gold standard' which they must consider.