A TODDLER who battled a rare eye cancer was guest of honour at the launch of a new fund raising drive.

Little Zak Sutherland, from Houghton-le-Spring, was diagnosed with the rare eye cancer retinoblastoma and has already undergone chemotherapy and laser treatment.

Now aged 20 months, he called into the Vision Express store in Chester-le-Street with parents Stacey and John to mark World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week.

The national chain of opticians spent the week raising money and support for the charity The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.

The store held a competition to name a teddy bear and offered a spectacles MOT for a donation to the cause.

Store manager, Joanne Howell said: “Our thanks go to Zak, John and Stacey for their support with our fundraising efforts.

“It’s a great morale boost for the team to do something meaningful for such a good cause, and having Zak here really spurred us on - every single penny we can raise will count, and we hope the local community will dig deep to support us.”