A father is celebrating after tests showed he is on the way to beating cancer.

Martin Jones, 41, has been clear of cancer cells for six months since his bone marrow transplant.

He was given the results of the six-month scan yesterday showing the transplant has been successful and his non-Hodgkins lymphoma is in remission.

Mr Jones said: "It's very good news - it means a much higher chance of a cure.

"You get these different landmarks at six months, then two years, then five years. Each time you reach one and get an 'all clear' the chance of being cured goes up."

Mr Jones, from Hove, was given his bone marrow transplant last year by a Czech Republic donor after seven years of suffering from the lymphoma.

Despite intensive chemotherapy he urgently needed a transplant to save his life. Mr Jones and his wife Karen, who have two children, Hayley, eight and Michael, four, made a public appeal for donors last September.

Mrs Jones arranged to hold a clinic for potential donors and more than 100 people came forward to help.

The process to transplant stem cells from the donor took six weeks and the family have been waiting anxiously to find out if it had been fully successful.

Mr Jones had one full-body scan in January which came through clear and a second one last week, at the Royal Free hospital in London.

The results were due yesterday so the family took a few days holiday at Centreparcs to take their minds off the waiting.

Mr Jones said: "It's the first time we've been able to go on holiday for a year or so.

"It's also the first time I've been able to go swimming with my kids for a year.

"Now we're just looking forward to the Easter break. I'm hoping to be able to play football for ten or 15 minutes on Sunday."

Mr Jones has urged any potential bone marrow donors to sign on to the national donor register and help save lives around the world.

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a disease that affects the cells of the lymphatic system, known as white blood cells or lymphocytes.

For information about bone marrow donation visit the Anthony Nolan Trust website at www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 020 7284 1234.