A BOY whose life was saved by an internet search has been given the all-clear from cancer following pioneering treatment.

Mad keen Bradford City fan Jake Turton, now 12, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2009, which had spread to his spine.

He was then given only six days to live.

But he has now been given the all-clear after spending five years in remission.

At first, Jake’s parents, Andy, 50, and Cath, 47, had thought he was just playing up to avoid school, but an internet search of his symptoms by his mum revealed the real reason for his illness.

He underwent brain surgery and was in a coma for ten weeks and had to endure months of chemotherapy.

A week before treatment was due to begin that would have given him a 30 per cent chance of surviving over the next three years, his oncologist at Leeds General Infirmary had attended a meeting of UK specialists.

At this meeting it was agreed an Italian treatment, called the Milan Protocol, which has a 73 per cent survival rate over five years, could be used in this country.

Jake was one of the first UK patients to undergo the procedure.

Alongside regular radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, he had to have general anaesthetic twice a day for almost five weeks.

The former pupil of St Paul's Primary School, Buttershaw, also had to learn how to walk and talk again as part of his rehabilitation.

Jake, who now attends Lightcliffe Academy, near Brighouse, received a kiss on the head from then City skipper Gary Jones after his club's semi-final win over Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup in 2013.

The family now plans on celebrating with a couple of holidays to Italy later this year.

Mr Turton, of Yarborough Croft, Northowram, said: "It's unbelievable. It is a huge weight off our shoulders.

"This is the day we have been dreaming of but we didn't think it would come.

"The doctors have said the chances of his brain tumour coming back are very slim.

"Jake doesn't realise anything has been going on. He has always been happy.

"Not knowing what's around the corner has been worst.

"We don't have to take him to the clinic every six months now.

"We were told at first that he would only live for another six days.

"It's been horrible. The last five years have been very difficult.

"Our lives have been turned upside down. Without the help of family and friends we would not have got through it.

"I think we have coped really well with it.

"Jake is just your usual, cheeky 12-year-old boy. He loves his football. The biggest problem he has at the moment is that Bradford City are not playing.

"That's the thing he is missing the most."