A little boy whose father died of cancer is hoping to help other families in the same situation by raising money for a Bradford hospice.

Four-year-old William Redmond's father Edward died of the disease in January at the age of 56.

Today William, pictured, was selling Marie Curie Christmas cards and other goods at his school's Christmas fair to raise money for the Maudsley Street hospice where his father spent his final days.

William's mother, Sarah Redmond, 37, of Cote Farm, Thackley, said: "I always felt that Edward would have wanted to die at home but the way it ended up was the best we could have hoped for.

"The staff at the hospice really do have an amazing gift. Their care and dedication has to be seen to be believed.

"They take the whole of the family into their care and William and I often return, either to speak to staff, or just to spend time in the chapel.

"We have also gone back to see what help we could give with fundraising and this is where William got the idea to hold a Marie Curie stall at his school Christmas fair.

"He said this will help buy tablets and medicines for all the poorly people and so the nurses have beds to put the poorly people in!"

Mr Redmond first discovered he had gastric cancer in 2000. He had an operation to remove two thirds of his stomach and seemed to be on the road to recovery.

"He was dreading the yearly check but got the all clear," said Mrs Redmond. "But within three months of that we found it was back."

Doctors wanted to operate again but found the cancer had spread and referred him for chemotherapy.

Too poorly to go home, he was taken to the Marie Curie Hospice on Christmas Eve, 2001. He was able to spend Christmas Day at home in Thackley but returned to the hospice straight after and remained there until his death.

Since then his wife has completed a sponsored driving challenge to raise money for the hospice and William was today hoping to add to that.

He was manning his stall today at Idle Primary School, Boothroyd Drive, between 2pm and 4pm.