A 'MIRACLE' baby who survived six months of chemotherapy in the womb has graduated from his Bradford nursery in an emotional ceremony.

Four-year-old Gabriel Marsh-Papworth donned a cap and gown with classmates at Russell Street Private Day Nursery and will now go on to Bailiff Bridge Primary School in Brighouse in September.

His mum, Stephanie Papworth, 37, was six weeks pregnant when she found out she had breast cancer in July 2010, and is one of only a small number of women to be given chemotherapy in Bradford while expecting a baby.

Stephanie's mum, Margaret Papworth, who runs the nursery in Little Horton, said it had been "amazing" to watch her grandson grow and develop.

"It's been a very special time to have Gabriel in the nursery, and we are so pleased he is fit and well enough to go on to school," she said.

"We still have to keep an eye on his progress, and he is still in and out of hospital sometimes with his asthma.

"The graduation was very emotional, he's been part of a brilliant set of children at the nursery who really embody what children should be like.

"We are always fundraising for cancer research at the nursery as Gabriel has spurred us on, and we'll continue to do so after he leaves as the cause is still obviously very close to our hearts."

Stephanie's ordeal first began when she found a lump in her breast when she was seven weeks pregnant with Gabriel.

Doctors discovered she had a grade three aggressive tumour and needed to start chemotherapy a few weeks later.

She went to an NHS consultant at Bradford Royal Infirmary and had the tumour in her breast and all her lymph nodes removed.

It had been suggested that she terminate the pregnancy as doctors did not think a baby would survive bouts of the aggressive chemotherapy treatment.

But, despite being born at 34 weeks and weighing only 4lbs 13oz, Gabriel defied the odds and after a spell in intensive care was deemed healthy enough to go home.

Stephanie, who also has two older children, describes Gabriel as her "partner-in-crime" and said him going to school would signal a big change in her life.

"When he starts school it will feel like I'm losing my right arm," she said.

"Since he was born, we have spent every day together.

"Going to school will be a massive milestone, and something I didn't dare to even dream about when he was born.

"Back then, every day was just another day to get through.

"He's come on in leaps and bounds, you'd never know he was born so early and so small.

"He's an absolute miracle, and I still count my blessings every day."