A BRADFORD family are looking forward to an extra special Christmas this year after their nine-year-old son was given the all-clear from cancer after battling the disease for a second time.

Shane Edwards had left experts baffled earlier this year after a scan showed he no longer had a tumour on his brain - just three months after doctors had told the family there was no hope.

Now the Bierley youngster has finished his fourth round of chemotherapy in time to fully enjoy the festive celebrations.

His mother Tracy Edwards, 33, told the Telegraph & Argus that Shane was definitely going to be spoilt this Christmas, after everything he had gone through this year.

She said: "We still can't believe it. We thought there would be a little of shrinkage, but didn't expect the tumour to be totally gone. He's still got some more chemotherapy to do, but we could never have imagined we'd have a Christmas like this."

Shane is expected to have another two courses of chemotherapy, finishing in March, and doctors have dropped his regular scans from every three months to every six months.

Mrs Edwards, of Miles Hill Crescent paid tribute to the number of friends, family and well-wishers that helped raise money in the summer to help with expenses connected to any treatment and for Shane's wish list. This included a petrol buggy which was top of his list.

Shane, who has a twin brother Scott, and two older brothers, Callum, 11, and Kyle, 12, was six when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2012 and underwent two major operations, radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy.

His parents had believed he was starting to win the fight against the aggressive form of cancer after months of regular scans came back clear but after developing a headache at school in July this year, further tests showed the tumour was back.

Doctors initially told the family that nothing could be done for him but Mrs Edwards insisted he receive treatment and he was having chemotherapy tablets at home.

After the clear scan in October, Shane’s consultant in paediatric oncology, Dr Sue Picton confirmed the scan showed the tumour seemed to have gone but he would have to continue his chemotherapy until the course is complete.

She added: “This is really great news for Shane and his family. We’re really pleased that the tumour seems to have responded so well to the chemotherapy treatment, and while not out of the woods just yet, this response to chemotherapy is much better than I expected.”