Tributes have been paid to brave youngster Jack Gales, who lost his four-year battle against leukaemia last week.

Jack, eight, formerly of High Meadow, Shann Park, Keighley, and a pupil at East Morton Primary School, died peacefully at his family's home in Burley on Wednesday of last week.

Friends and family congregated in St Luke's Church, in East Morton, on Monday for Jack's funeral service, which was followed by interment at Guiseley Cemetery.

East Morton school head teacher Helen Wilson says: "Jack was a truly remarkable little boy whose courage was incredible. He had a lovely sense of fun and was very popular with everyone at East Morton.

"We all were really happy when he was feeling well enough to come to school. 'Jack's back!' was the cry from the children, and everyone rejoiced.

"Monday was a strange day for us all. The children were amazing at our 'Jack' assembly, held after the staff had been to the funeral.

"The way they responded as we shared our special memories of Jack together as a family was a tribute to the way they all loved and respected Jack.

"We sang together, talked, laughed and cried. We will all miss him, but never forget."

Vanessa Hemmingway, of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, says: "He was such a bubbly character and such a fighter. His family never seemed to lose hope. It is desperately sad, and I feel incredibly sorry for Peter, Kate and Fiona.

"All we can do is encourage more people to join the bone marrow register because we need as many committed donors as possible," she says.

Jack's parents Peter and Kate, and their daughter Fiona, who moved from Keighley to Burley in January, are being comforted by friends and family.

And in memory of Jack they are backing the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and urging as many people as possible to come forward as bone marrow donors.

Jack was diagnosed with acute lympoblastic leukaemia in August, 1995, and underwent several courses of chemotherapy to try and fight the disease.

His family teamed up with the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust in the hope of finding a suitable donor.

Hundreds of men turned up to donor clinics at Cougar Park, Keighley, in November and December, 1998, but no match could be found.

The family moved to Burley at the beginning of this year in the hope of making a fresh start.

But they were dealt a serious blow when they were told that Jack's cancer had returned a month after his last treatment.

The family made one last desperate appeal for donors to come forward this summer, with Jack's consultant, Sally Kinsey, also scouring the globe for a possible match.

Unfortunatel, their efforts were in vain, and Kate and Peter took Jack home at the end of August so that he could spend his final months with his family.