When schoolboy Anthony Pilcher discovered he had cancer he raised cash for research into the disease by shaving his head.

Anthony, 14, got friends and family to sponsor him and raised £3,000 for the Cancer Research Campaign.

His mother Gill said: "As soon as he learnt the treatment he needed was going to make his hair fall out, he decided to get in first and shave it off.

"He has been absolutely fantastic. He has a wonderful sense of humour and has coped brilliantly. If he hadn't been so strong, I think I would have fallen apart."

The first signs that Anthony had bone cancer came when he fell over coming out of school 18 months ago.

But it was not until a chiropractor referred him to the Royal Sussex County Hospital at Easter that he realised something was seriously wrong.

Anthony, a Year 10 pupil at Lewes Grammar School, is now undergoing treatment at three hospitals. He is confined to a wheelchair but hoping to return to school part-time in the New Year.

Mrs Pilcher, of Headland Close, Peacehaven, said: "When Anthony learnt what was wrong, he just decided himself to do something about it and came up with the idea of shaving his head.

"He raised about £2,000 through that and then other people have added money since through various sponsored events."

Gill said her son's strength of character had amazed her.

She said: "Luckily, he's not a sporty person. He prefers computers and his PlayStation but he is finding it hard being in a wheelchair and missing school."

Anthony presented a cheque for £3,000 to Pam Ryan from the Cancer Research Campaign and promised there would be more to follow after he dreamt up more money-raising ideas.