Seven-year-old Jay Seward received a very special Christmas present this year - the all-clear from cancer.

For the first time in three years, Jay and his family, from Oxford, have celebrated Christmas with no visits to hospital.

His dad, Alan, 37, said: "It is the news we have been waiting for. Three years after he was first diagnosed with leukaemia, his tests have come back clear, and now we can finally enjoy a relaxed Christmas, without him having to undergo any painful treatment."

The Sewards, from Rackham Place, had their world turned upside down in 2004.

Mr Seward said: "When he was four, Jay kept getting one infection after another.

"During yet another ear infection and high temperature we gave him ibuprofen and paracetamol and within 24 hours he had developed uniform bruises all over his body.

"We took him to the GP who sent us directly to A&E. Tests later in the week confirmed that Jay had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and would need to start chemotherapy almost immediately.

"We were frightened. We did not want to lose him and did not know what would happen next.

"To see our son with a cannula (needle) in his hand, struggling against the pain and not understanding what was going on - we just felt an overwhelming urge to protect him from everything, but we couldn't.

"He was in and out of hospital more than 15 times in one 18-month period. A couple of children at school teased him for being a baldy' when he lost his hair, but we've encouraged him to laugh it off.

"I also shaved my head so that he didn't feel alone in what he was going through."

What has amazed Jay's family and staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital has been his wish to help other child cancer patients.

Jay, a pupil at SS Phili and James School in North Oxford, lets other children see procedures he goes through, like having needles put in, to show them that they can do it.

Mr Seward said: "Children don't believe it when an adult tells them something won't hurt, but they'll believe another child and Jay just says watch me'."

The long term for Jay now looks bright.

Mr Seward said: "I think children are known for getting on with things and adapting, but we think Jay has gone the extra mile in his ordeal, and he deserves all credit for that.

"We also hope that other people will look at him and see that cancer isn't a death sentence.

"The last four years have been terrible, but now we have our life back and it's twice as good as it was."

Jay has been given a Little Star, an award open to all under-17s who have cancer or have undergone treatment for the disease in the last five years.

He follows in the footsteps of Jake Spicer, from Greater Leys, Oxford, who, as we reported on Saturday, has been named a Little Star. Jay receives a trophy and a certificate.

Only one nomination per child is necessary.

To nominate, email: littlestar@cancer.org.uk or call 0113 231 9828 to request a nomination form, or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar