The first £10,000 has been handed over to a family battling to help a father spend more precious time with his family.

The cheque was given to Neil and Wendy Cooper by The Argus group editor Michael Beard at the couple's home in Portslade.

Generous supporters across Sussex and beyond have already raised almost £15,000 for the Neil Cooper Appeal only two weeks after it was launched.

The appeal is raising money for an expensive course of trial cancer treatment which is not available on the NHS.

Mr Cooper, 33, from Portslade, has an untreatable form of cancer affecting his lungs and kidneys and the treatment is his only chance of prolonging his life.

His family urgently need people's help to give him the chance to spend more time with his six-month-old daughter Caitlin and Wendy, 32.

There is no guarantee the treatment will work but there is a good chance it will prolong Mr Cooper's life by several months or possibly more.

Each course of treatment costs £10,000 and the fundraising is continuing to help with the cost of the next.

Mr Cooper's family had managed to get together the cash for the first dose of treatment and Mr Cooper is now recovering from that at home.

He is working on building up his strength ready for the trip to London for the second course next Thursday.

He said: "It is not going too badly at the moment. We would like to say just how overwhelmed we are by all the support and help we have been given.

"We are just so grateful to everyone and for all the good wishes we have been sent. It has been wonderful and we would like to thank everybody."

Cheques made payable to The Argus can be sent to the: Neil Cooper Appeal, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Brighton, BN1 8AR.

Alternatively, people can donate by credit card. Anyone wanting to make a donation or find out how they can help with fund-raising can contact Elsa Gillio on 01273 544465 or 07796 318402 or email elsa.gillio@theargus.co.uk