A MOTHER has spoken of her shock after her two-year-old son was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Jane-Louise Greenhow, took Jason William to Barnsley Hospital with a rash and painful joints thought to be caused by a hip virus.

But a blood test revealed that the Wombwell toddler had leukaemia.

Jane-Louise, of Wath Road, said: "He had been on antibiotics for a hip virus but couldn't seem to shake it off. He kept falling over and wouldn't get up, he would just sit there waiting to be picked up.

"Things got worse, he was disinterested with his toys and was forgetting how to do things. He also looked in pain which caused great concern."

Jane, whose older son Jonathan, nine, made the front page of the Chronicle when he was run over outside Park Street School three years ago, took her tot to hospital demanding more tests.

The 28-year-old said: "When the blood test showed that he had leukaemia, the world stood still, I didn't expect it at all - at one point I thought it was meningitis because he had a rash.

"It is every parent's nightmare but when it happens you have to get a grip of yourself and get on with it - I can't give in to my emotions because of Jonathan.

Jason is responding well to chemotherapy at Sheffield Children's Hospital but will need maintenance treatment until 2013.

A charity race night, organised by shops on Wombwell High Street, with a performance by local band the Poppi Chix will be held on Monday March 15 at Ardsley Oaks Working Men's Club at 7.30pm.