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A six-year-old boy who was given a 25 per cent chance of surviving surgery to remove an aggressive brain tumour is celebrating his two-year "all clear" scan.

Doctors believe there is now little chance of the tumour returning after Alex Barnes, from Fleckney, underwent pioneering proton therapy in America.

Alex's mum, Ros, said: "It's an absolute miracle. We can still hardly believe it.

"We have been told we can sit back and relax now and get on with our lives. This is a real milestone."

Doctors removed a 9cm tumour in a nine-hour operation at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, in February 2006.

He underwent chemotherapy but the tumour returned, and Alex was given a 25 per cent chance of survival.

It was then that his family decided to take him to America for surgery to remove the second tumour and have proton therapy, which uses a laser directed at the affected area to destroy any cancerous tissue.

The trip was made possible thanks to hundreds of people who donated tens of thousands of pounds to fund it.

The family is now planning a trip to America in December to say thank you to the doctors who treated Alex.

Alex, who wants to be a policeman when he grows up, said: "I don't really remember being ill but I am enjoying playing football and being with my friends."