A brave little boy who has beaten leukaemia twice in his short life has defied the odds - to start his first day of school today (weds).

Mum Kirsty Knighton said there were times she had thought she would never see four-year-old son Josh Stockhill in his school uniform on his first day.

Josh was first diagnosed with acute nymphoblastic leukemia at just eight months old - and his parents were told following his diagnosis that he may not make it through the night.

And after nine months of "rigorous" chemotherapy treatment, parents Kirsty Knighton, 36, and Craig Stockhill, 40, were dealt another blow - when they were told Josh had relapsed at just two years old.

But today (Weds), Josh has defied the odds to start his first day at Leighton Primary School in Peterborough - a milestone which has left his parents "emotional".