A disabled teenager and his sick mother were today looking forward to a dream holiday in the sun thanks to big-hearted Bradford folk.

Cancer sufferer Diane Metcalfe and son Adam, who was born with no arms, have never been abroad as a family before but are now counting down the days to their trip to Spain.

And Mrs Metcalfe's husband David believes a week of fun in the sun will help her battle against lung cancer.

Diane's brother-in-law, Brian Metcalfe, began co-ordinating a fundraising bid to send the Tyersal-based family of seven on holiday after she was diagnosed.

So far more than £2,000 has been raised and the holiday is booked.

Mr and Mrs Metcalfe, 14-year-old Adam and his four brothers and sisters - Craig, 16, Jodie, 12, Kirsty, ten, and seven-year-old Chelsey - are now looking forward to spending a week in an apartment on the Costa del Sol in June.

David Metcalfe said the family wanted to send out a big thank you to everyone who had helped turn the holiday dream into a reality, including staff and Adam's fellow students at Bowling Community College who donated £1,500 after a series of fundraising events; Dave Cooper, of Shipley's Electronic Data Systems; staff at Bradford Social Services who had a whipround, and several anonymous wellwishers who made donations after reading of their holiday hopes in the Telegraph & Argus.

He said: "There are so many nice people out there and we've all been touched and really choked up by how generous they've been.

"The holiday's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for us and a chance to really enjoy ourselves."

He added: "Diane's been overwhelmed by it all but just looking forward to the holiday is helping her feel a lot better. I'm sure the break will be a boost because it's a bit of sunshine in her life.''

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