A LITTLE boy from Hereford who is seriously ill with cancer could be unwrapping the best birthday present he could wish for when he turns 10 on April 2.

Samuel Taylor has had his heart set on scrambling about on his own motorbike since he sat on his first ride-on machine as a little tot.

But doctors told his mum, Stephanie, aged 25, that her oldest child had only about three days left to live, when he was diagnosed with a tumour on December 19, 2000.

It took just three weeks for the cancer to spread to his liver, lungs, abdomen and chest walls.

A year on the courageous little boy has received course after course of chemotherapy, but undaunted and like many lads his age, he has harboured dreams of owning his own motorbike.

"It's something he has really set his heart on since he was small, when he had a motorised ride on bike," said Samuel's grandmother, Rosalind Gladwyn, who gives her cherished grandson 24-hour care at her home in Whitecross Road.

The family needs £560 to buy the motorbike, which will be a complete surprise, together with a helmet and accessories. They hope the funds can be raised over the Easter weekend when friends and publicans of The Britannia in Cotterell Street, Jane and Alec Oates, open their pub for two big fundraising events.

An invitation has been issued to the public, as well as regulars at the pub, where Samuel enjoys playing pool, friends and family, to dig deep in their pockets and turn up for a grand auction on Saturday, March 30 at 1pm. Donations would also be greatly appreciated.

The following day everyone is invited to a fun day at the pub from 12pm to 4pm, when popular duo, Elton John impersonator Marcus Andrew and Scotswoman Helen, will sing to the crowd. There will also be a barbecue, a bouncy castle, a draw and an Easter egg hunt.

"Samuel has had cancer for more than 12 months. He's such a survivor and if we can make him happy then that's fantastic," said Jane.

Anyone who would like to donate an item for the auction is welcome to drop it off at The Britannia in Cotterell Street, off Whitecross Road.