A YOUNGSTER'S brave battle against cancer has spurred people in the region to raise thousands of pounds to buy a specialist ambulance.

Joshua Scarlett-Abbott fell ill in November last year and had to undergo a special life-saving operation using ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation), a bypass system which oxygenates the blood outside the body, allowing the lungs to rest and heal.

The seven-year-old, from Langton, near Malton, in North Yorkshire, had to be airlifted from Scarborough General Hospital to the world's leading ECMO centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where the procedure was carried out.

Specialists diagnosed Joshua with non-Hodgkin's 'T' cell anaplastic lymphoma - a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Against the odds the school boy bravely battled the disease for another year, and his parents Jonathan and Fiona launched the ECMO Ambulance Appeal in October following the death of their son.

Their efforts inspired local people to donate money to the appeal, which is proving to be a massive boost in helping the Scarlett-Abbotts to raise £75,000 to buy a ECMO paediatric ambulance to help other sick children.

Mr Scarlett-Abbott said: "We have had a lot of input from family and friends following Joshua's funeral, but a fair proportion of money is coming in from the public, which is fantastic.

"It is a really touching story when you look at it, and we have had lots of letters and little notes coming in with money, from people who have a son the same age, or grandfather who has lost his grandson."

To contribute towards the Joshua Scarlett-Abbott ECMO Ambulance Appeal write to Carrier House, Main Street, Langton, Malton, York, YO17 9QP, or call 0870-907 7101.