EVERYONE -- parents especially -- will be truly heartened by the "miraculous" progress being made by five-year-old John Mark Riding, the boy given only three months to live by doctors after they found he had an inoperable brain tumour.

Now, after just two weeks at a clinic in Germany that provides experimental treatment not available in Britain, he is responding remarkably.

Previously in danger of losing his left arm which had become lifeless and struggling to use his left leg, John, formerly of Darwen, is now walking more than two miles a day, can kick a football and is even managing to draw with his left hand again.

They are amazing developments that will gratify and encourage everyone in East Lancashire and in his home town of Redruth in Cornwall who has contributed to the appeal to send him to the Hufeland Klinik, near Stuttgart -- as will the reports from his parents that their son's renewed fighting spirit is proving to be an inspiration to other cancer sufferers. But these promising developments and the hopes that they raise need to be tempered by the sober fact that John is not yet out of the woods and that the further six weeks of treatment that he needs will cost thousand of pounds -- money that his parents must find if that hope is to be kept alive.

We have no doubt that the generous people of East Lancashire will respond to their appeal, with both money and their prayers for this brave little boy.