Readers of the Chester Chronicle have donated almost £11,000 in two weeks to fund a holiday for six-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumour.

The paper reported on the plight of Sam Fynn, who was diagnosed with the tumour in April, and asked readers to help raise £3,000 for a family holiday.

But that target has been almost quadrupled as readers' donations have poured in – providing enough cash for the holiday, an electric wheelchair and a charity donation.

Reporter Jessica Shaughnessy said: "The response has been amazing. Our deputy editor Mike Green has been here for 20 years and he said he has never seen anything like it.

"We asked companies and individuals to donate money. People have been writing and phoning in overwhelmed by the story."

Jessica said that one local businessman gave £2,000 to the appeal and offered his chauffeur-driven Bentley to take the family on holiday.

She said: "The family has said they will use the rest of the money to get an electric wheelchair for Sam and will find a research charity for tumours to make a donation to.

"We're going to let the appeal run. We'll say that we've got enough but the local feeling is very strong and if people want to do some fundraising in Sam's name they can."

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