Hundreds of potential bone marrow donors attended a special clinic in a bid to find a match for a 12-year-old leukaemia sufferer.

Mohammed Shahbaaz has a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia Philadelphia Positive Chromosome and his best chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant. Although the youngster, of Harlow Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, has five siblings, none are a match.

His father Shahid Parvaz enlisted the help of the Anthony Nolan Trust to hold a special clinic at the Kismet Centre, Spencer Road, Lidget Green.

Mr Parvaz said: "The clinic was magical, we got hundreds of people turning up and the Anthony Nolan Trust said it was the busiest clinic they had ever done.

"We had people as young as 17 asking their parents to sign consent forms and we had English people turning up who said even though they knew they wouldn't be a match for Shahbaaz, they still wanted to help save lives. It was a real multi-cultural event.

"I hope we can find a match for Shahbaaz but, if not, there might be a match for other children who are suffering. If that happens I will be the happiest man on earth. If I could end just one man's heartache it would be wonderful.

The clinic was supported by Mav Khan, of Heaton, whose son Hamza died in February aged ten. Hamza had aplastic anaemia and became friends with Shahbaaz while they were being treated at St James's Hospital in Leeds. Unfortunately a bone marrow match was never found for Hamza but his father hopes it will be different for Shahbaaz.

Mr Khan, of Heaton, said: "I don't want Shahbaaz to go through what Hamza went through. It would be brilliant to see him get a bone marrow match."

A spokesman for the Anthony Nolan Trust said: "We are urging more people aged 18 to 40 from black and minority ethnic communities to join the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register.

"People who need a bone marrow transplant are most likely to find a suitable donor with the same ethnic background."

To join the register call the Anthony Nolan hotline on 0901 8822 234 or for more details visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk e-mail: claire.lomax @bradford.newsquest.co.uk