Operation hope for Lloyd

Lloyd Humphries with his father Andrew are heading to America

A three-year-old boy with a rare, life-threatening disease is to receive revolutionary new treatment.

Lloyd Humphries and his family are preparing to fly to the United States for the operation, which has been made possible thanks to donations from the public.

Lloyd, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, has Canavan Disease, which is a genetic condition which means he cannot walk, see or speak.

The treatment will involve introducing a chemical to his brain which he should be producing naturally.

"We're hoping that he can live a little bit longer," said Lloyd's mother Louise.

Without the public's help we would never have been able to take Lloyd to America

Louise Humphries

"We don't know really what gains the treatment will bring. But anything is great for us."

Two years ago the family launched an appeal for Lloyd's treatment and £70,000 was raised.

Mrs Humphries added: "What we want to do is to thank the public.

"Without the public's help we would never have been able to take Lloyd to America.

"It would have been something we'd have hoped for, but would never have been able to do ourselves."

The family will fly to the United States next month.