THE family of a toddler who is fighting for his life after choking on a grape say they hope to wake him up on Thursday.

More than £4,300 has now been raised for the parents of Hartlepool two-year-old Jacob Jenkins, who remains in a coma in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary after the incident at Pizza Hut on the town's Marina on Friday evening.

Jacob fell ill after a grape became stuck in his airway.  A statement from the family on Facebook on Monday night said it was hoped to bring Jacob out of the coma on Thursday.  In a show of support people are being urged to light a Chinese lantern or let off a yellow balloon at 7pm tonight.

The online appeal had raised £2,500 in just hours on Monday morning, but that had almost doubled to well over £4,000 by the evening.  Family friend Ben Picken launched the campaign on the Go Fund Me website, with the aim of helping Jacob’s parents, David Jenkins and Abigail Wilson.

To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/4d64c9ks