A toddler who nearly died twice and had chemotherapy as he lay on a life support machine, is on course for recovery.

Brandon Coleman's life was left hanging by a thread after doctors found a huge liver tumour and discovered other parts of his body were riddled with cancer.

He became so ill, doctors agreed the relatively rare step of giving chemotherapy as he lay on his life support machine. But now, after intensive treatment, Brandon, two, of Eston, near Middlesbrough, has been given the news his family prayed for - his cancer appears under control.

Body and bone marrow scans have revealed no signs of the cancer that put his life at risk.

Brandon's family hope his story will inspire the families of other sick children to keep believing.

Grandmother Pat McElvaney said: "The doctors can't believe how well he has done. He has just bounced back up and look where he is now. It's unbelievable."

Mrs McElvaney said Brandon was very poorly during and after intensive chemotherapy at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary last month.

But within a fortnight, he quickly picked up and is now happily at his Eston home with his parents, Angela and Carl.

Brandon, who will have one more scan and radiotherapy next month, is now looking forward to a holiday.