TODDLER Joshua Westwell is joining Royalty this year -- because he will be in hospital on his real birthday, he's celebrating an official one too!

The battling tot from Bacup, was diagnosed with liver cancer at his routine 18-month medical check and he should have been in hospital having the tumour removed this week, but the operation has had to be delayed.

His mum, Karen Skinner, said: "The surgery is now going to take place on August 28, after which he will be in hospital for 10 to 14 days, so he will be in hospital for his second birthday on September 5.

"We will be going to see the surgeon on Monday and then go back for a scan on Wednesday and every day he has to be visited by the district nurse and given an injection.

"After the operation, he will be in intensive care for four to five days and then back on a ward in the hospital.

"I have asked everyone not to bring presents and cards for him in the hospital. We are going to celebrate his birthday when he comes back home."

Karen and Joshua's dad, Paul Westwell, will both be at their son's bedside throughout his stay in hospital.

Paul's parents will be looking after the couple's daughter, Chloe, who is nearly seven-months-old and teething.

Karen said: "We went into the hospital last week and she had one tooth, when we came out she had four.

"When they said Joshua would be in on his birthday I was really upset, but then my dad, who is really straight to the point, said at least this way he is going to have lots more birthdays. And he is right."

When he comes home, Karen said there would be a special birthday cake waiting for him and she was planning the best Christmas ever before the family go off for a dream holiday to EuroDisney next year.

Joshua will be operated on in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury. Family friends held a charity event at Rosemount Working Men's Club for the ward where he is treated, which raised more than £1,000.