A four-year-old having pioneering treatment in America for a brain tumour could be home for Christmas.

Doctors say they are "very happy" with how the proton therapy they are using is working on Alex Barnes.

Since an operation to remove a brain tumour and having two metal balls embedded in his head, Alex has been receiving proton laser treatment to kill off remaining cancer cells in his brain.

Alex, of Fleckney, has spent two hours each morning for the past couple of weeks at the University of Florida for the treatment.

The proton therapy is due to finish at the end of November, and, if all goes well, he could be back home in December.

Sameer Keole, assistant professor at the University of Florida's department of Radiation Oncology, is one of the physicians dealing with Alex.

He said: "Alex should be able to return home within two weeks of completing the radiation therapy, quite possibly sooner.

"I'm very happy with how the treatment has progressed thus far. Alex has been a model patient and has had no side effects from the radiation treatment.

"He's also dealing quite well with the daily sedation, which is required for all young patients.

"He has been a delight to have as a patient. His favourite hobby is squirting me with a water-filled syringe – it seems he's egged on by the nurses."

Alex's treatment was made possible by hundreds of Leicester Mercury readers who helped raise £40,000 to send him to America for the therapy, which is not available in the UK.

The news that he could spend Christmas with his family has left his mum, Ros, feeling very upbeat.

She said: "It would be perfect for the family to spend Christmas together as he will be without his dad and sister on his birthday."

Alex, who turns five on Wednesday, has spent the past few days shopping for birthday presents and taking in some home comforts.

Ros said: "We're really missing English food at the moment so we're going to this pub we've heard about in Jacksonville for some good old grub.

"Alex has lost about 5lbs so we need to fatten him up on fish and chips and steak and kidney pie.

"It's his birthday on Wednesday so we've been going round all the toy stores.

"He's been showing me all these machine guns and toy rifles he wants me to buy him.

"We won't be having any treatment tomorrow as the centre is closed for Veterans Day.

"I think we're going to go to the zoo on his birthday to have a look at the animals."

Alex's dad, Paul, and sister Felicity, who have been visiting, flew back to the family home in Fleckney, on Monday.

Ros said: "Alex has been missing his dad since he left on Monday and was crying because he wanted to see his sister.

"I was very upset to see them both go back to Fleckney.

"It's hard to have your family split up, but I keep thinking it's only for a few more weeks."