The 121 guests at a special party in Callow End, near Worcester, on Saturday had every reason to celebrate.

They were there to raise a toast to VIP guest of honour Joseph Jenkins who, at nine years old, is celebrating the end of a gruelling three-year battle against leukaemia.

When he was six, Joseph, of Upton Road, Callow End, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a cancer of the white blood cells that is fatal if left untreated because it spreads into the bloodstream and other vital organs quickly.

The party, which had music, bouncy castles and a

We'd been looking forward to it for so long I was panicking that it might not

be all that I had hoped it would be

barbecue, marked the end of hospital stays, drips, chemotherapy and twice daily medication for Joseph.

He had his last session of chemotherapy in May and took his final tablets last week. His relieved mum Mary started planning the party years ago as something to look forward to once Jospeph's treatment came to an end.

"We had been looking forward to it for so long that I was panicking that it might not be all that I had hoped it would be," she said.

"But it was unbelievable. Better than we ever could have imagined and very moving.

"All Joseph's family and friends and even his headteacher came to celebrate with him, and he had an amazing time, although he was exhausted afterwards.

"He said he wants a party every year for the anniversary of end of his treatment!"

Mrs Jenkins, her husband Ian, Joseph and his two brothers - Harry, aged eight, and Jack, five - are trying to get back to a normal life.

"I think Joseph's forgotten about his treatment already, but me and Ian are still contantly thinking, `has he taken his medication?" Mrs Jenkins said. "We are still coming to terms with the fact that we are not going to be able to rely on weekly blood tests to make sure he's healthy.

"He'll still have tests every three months, but it is an enormous relief that his treatment has ended."