A STAR-studded charity evening is set to raise thousands of pounds for a Bury toddler in a rare coma.

Tickets sales have rocketed for tonight's (Fri, July 30) fundraising extravaganza in aid of three-year-old Joshua Wilson, previously featured in the Bury Times.

Entertainment will be provided by comedian Patrick Monaghan and several Key 103 DJs will be on hand to help with a charity auction at the Thistle Hotel in Manchester.

Bids have already been flooding in for the donated auction items, including signed Manchester United goodies and tickets to family days out, on a website set up especially for Joshua's fundraising.

The number of donated items is now so large that organisers ADT Security are not expecting to get through all the bids tonight and are urging buyers to continue bidding at www.helpjoshua.co.uk.

Organisers aim to raise £5,000 to install a special lift at home for Joshua. The youngster suffers from a rare brain condition, leaving him in a sleep-like coma. He underwent an eight-hour operation last March after a tumour was discovered on his brain stem. Although the surgery successfully removed the tumour, Joshua is now in a responsive coma where his body does not function but he is still aware of his surroundings.

Joshua continues to improve every week but doctors have warned his parents Dawn Fidler, of Walshaw Road, and Colin Wilson, of Holly Street, that it may take up to two years for him to fully recover.