The resilient Fleckney six-year-old spent four months in Florida in 2008 having a second brain tumour removed via a pioneering new treatment called proton therapy.

Last Fridaymar5, mum Ros, dad Paul and sister Felicity were delighted with the latest news from doctors at Leicester Royal Infirmary following an MRI scan.
Plucky Alex has to have the scans every four months and the agonising wait for the results is painful for the family.

But they were overjoyed to hear last Friday that the latest scan showed no signs of cancer cells.

Alex, who has also recently had a crossed-eye corrected, is now enjoying his schooldays at Stoneygate School in Great Glen.

"He is now back to school and enjoying playing football," Mrs Barnes said.

Experts from the US are keeping close tabs on Alex from afar, and are said to be delighted with his progress.

Alex returned home to Edward Road, Fleckney, in December 2008 following his four-month treatment at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville.

Proton therapy is not available yet in the UK and Mrs Barnes has been a leading advocate of the treatment being introduced to these shores.

She has been lobbying politicians and the Department of Health is now looking at two possible sites in the north and south of England where proton centres could soon be introduced.

Mrs Barnes also sent another heartfelt thanks to the people of Harborough for sending their donations in 2007 which helped get Alex to Florida in the first place.

"I lot of people from Harborough sent money so we could send Alex to Florida for treatment and without them he wouldn't be here with us today," Mrs Barnes said.