HUNDREDS of Leyland schoolchildren have pledged to help a brain tumour sufferer get vital treatment abroad after British doctors said his condition was inoperable.

Peter Gibson, 41, of Elmwood Avenue, Leyland, was told that he had just a few months to live after being diagnosed with a brain tumour earlier this year.

While a specialist diagnosed the tumour as smaller than originally thought the former Leyland Trucks worker was offered little hope of making a full recovery.

But friends and family were determined to offer him a lifeline and trawled the internet for information after hearing of a New York doctor called Patrick Kelly -- the topic of a BBC documentary earlier this year about his pioneering surgical work.

Now Peter's friends, wife Ellen and daughter Victoria are working tirelessly to help raise enough cash to fly him to America to receive an operation which could save his life.

The fund-raising champs have organised various events across Leyland including raffles and quiz nights and local schoolchildren have staged non-uniform days in a bid to raise more funds. Work colleague Mark Alcock, who is helping co-ordinate the appeal, said: "We want the whole of the Leyland community to band together and help this guy.

"There's lots of people giving us things to raffle which shows that the community does care."

Another appeal co-ordinator Gerry Thompson added: "The attitude of people has really staggered me.

"Everybody can't do enough to help our appeal.

"We've organised a quiz night at the Royal British Legion and even have a team coming all the way from Birmingham to help us raise money."

He added: "I've known Peter since he first started at Leyland Trucks when he left school at 16.

"He's very popular and well-liked around Leyland and, like I say, people can't do enough to help.

"It'll be a long, hard slog to raise the money but everyone who is involved with the appeal is determined to see it through."

If you fancy attending an event or appeal, there will be a quiz night on Friday evening at the Priory club, Broadfield Drive, Leyland.

To donate money to the appeal call into the NatWest Bank in Hough Lane, Leyland.