THE heartbroken family of brave cancer battler Bradley Lowery have been told he has just weeks to live.

His family said today that Bradley's cancer is spreading rapidly.

The six-year-old became poorly on Thurdsay and a nurse had to get an ambulance to 'blue light' him to hospital from his home in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham.

The radiotherapy Bradley has been having to control the pain in his leg has helped - but the pain has spread elswhere in his body.

On Thursday his saturation levels - the amount of oxygen he is getting into his body - were very low, so he was rushed to the RVI in Newcastle.

The message from Bradley's family adds: "Once we were there Bradley's consultant checked him over and sent him for a chest X-ray.

"The results were devastating, all of Bradley's tumours have grown really fast.

"The reason his oxygen levels are low is because there isn't much room in his lungs now.

"I was told Bradley has now only got weeks to live because of how rapid the cancer is spreading.

"Yes I knew this was coming but I thought it was going to be months not weeks.

"My heart is broken in two, it is too soon for this to happen, it should never be happening to start with.

"My baby has had to put up with so much over the past four years and now he has to suffer a painful death. How is that fair?

"Why should any parent have to be put through this heart ache?

Sunderland fan Bradley, who has touched the hearts of the nation, is suffering from neuroblastoma.

Last month Bradley was joined by Sunderland striker Jermaine Defoe and keeper Vito Mannone for his birthday party.

The celebrations also included fire-eaters, a funfair, marquee, jugglers and stilt-walkers.

Bradley also walked out with Defoe for his England comeback match at Wembley.