A boy of seven who has undergone four gruelling years of cancer treatment has been given special recognition for his bravery.

Keiton Knight was presented with a Cancer Research UK Little Star award at his home in Hove.

He was nominated by his uncle Warren who said: "Keiton has been through so much and yet he has never stopped smiling. He is such a little soldier. We are all so proud of him."

Keiton's mother Paris said: "My baby has been through so much in his short life yet he always puts a smile on his face and makes me and everyone around him laugh with his cheeky ways.

"Words can not express how proud I am of Keiton. He is so brave and courageous.

"He knows how much his cancer restricts his life yet he hardly ever moans, he just gets on with it. I love him so much. He's truly my little star."

Keiton, a pupil at Hangleton Junior School, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June 2003, following nearly six months of illness and painful tests.

He began immediate chemotherapy treatment but doctors warned his family that it was unlikely Keiton would ever walk again.

However, he bounced back and was up and running around within eight months.

Keiton's treatment went according to plan until July last year when he suffered a relapse with a different type of cancer called acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) which proved to be very rare and very aggressive.

To survive, he needed a stem cell transplant but because he is mixed race a match is difficult to find.

Mr Knight set up a bone marrow appeal and a website urging people to sign up.

The appeal resulted in 1,500 new recruits but despite an extensive worldwide search a match could not be found.

Doctors then suggested a blood cord transplant and Keiton was due to have the operation on January 5 this year.

However, just before Christmas, doctors delivered a further blow to his family, telling them once again, Keiton's cancer had returned, meaning the transplant could not go ahead.

Cancer Research UK spokeswoman Lynn Daly said: "Keiton has had to face difficult, complicated and sometimes painful treatment for half his life and yet all I have heard are stories about how brave and sunny he is."