Children battling cancer have inspired Bradford people to give more than £131,000 to a district-wide civic appeal.

Former Bradford Lord Mayor Richard Wightman and his committee from last year's Lord Mayor's Appeal handed over the grand total to children's cancer charity Candle-lighters.

Mr Wightman chose Candle-lighters for his appeal after his own family was supported by the charity when his two-year-old grandson was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Felix, who is now eight, underwent two years of tough treatment and is now in remission.

The support Felix and his family got from the charity was vital, said Mr Wightman, adding: "He's fit and well and we hope he stays that way.

"He had wonderful treatment when he was ill. The support we got from Candle-lighters was invaluable."

Today he said he was thrilled that the people and businesses of Bradford had been so generous and contributed so greatly to his appeal.

"It's very difficult to raise more than £100,000 for a single appeal nowadays when there are so many worthy charities around," he said.

"People have so many demands on their time and money that I'd like them to know how much I appreciate all they have done."

Candlelighters, founded in 1971, is run by parents whose children have been treated at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

It is dedicated to combating childhood cancer, leukaemia and other serious blood disorders.

One of 22 specialist regional centres in the country, the unit there treats hundreds of youngsters, from babies to students, each year.

About 20 per cent of the young cancer patients it cares for come from the Bradford area.

As well as funding research and medical equipment, the charity supports families through the trauma of diagnosis and treatment, offering counselling and respite care.

It needs £700,000 a year to keep up all its projects which range from chalet holidays on the East coast and play therapists to home visits and toys.

The charity has also recently been able to support the cancer unit in taking on extra nursing staff and a junior doctor.

Secretary of the Candle-lighters Trust Sally Amos was delighted with the appeal's total. "It's fantastic," she said.

"The money will make a real difference to families who come here from Bradford. It is a very traumatic time for parents to see a child going through treatment.

"The money will go towards all the work we do, including our big Christmas party where patients and youngsters off treatment get together. It's much more than a party because it gives out a very strong message of hope."

Josie Pennington, who was chairman of last year's Lord Mayor's Appeal committee, said: "It is tremendous that we reached this figure because I know just how much it will help people in need."

The last time a Lord Mayor's Appeal made over £130,000 was in 1999 when the then Lord Mayor Tony Miller raised £144,000 for the special-care baby units at Bradford Royal Infirmary and Airedale Hospital near Keighley.

To find out more about Candlelighters, call (0113) 2470372.