The Warrington Guardian has launched a campaign to help a three-year-old boy get a life-changing operation.

Reporter Stephen Bailey’s report on Ethan Bell, who needs tens of thousands of pounds to fund a series of operations to remove cysts from around his face and eye, prompted the newsdesk to launch a fully fledged appeal.

The money is needed because the NHS will not carry out the operation unless the cysts bleed or until Ethan is a teenager – but a specialist from New York could perform the work.

It was the heart-rending account of how Ethan was taken to play at his local pub only to be laughed at by the other children that struck a chord with the editorial team.

Sub-editor Joel Sawyer said: “The fantastic pictures our photographer Dave Gillespie came back with showed just how much of a wonderful character Ethan is and when we read Stephen’s excellent report, we all felt we had to do everything we could to help him.”

Incorporating a website set up by his mum, Karen, and her partner Kevin Connolly, Ethan’s Journey was featured on the front page of the Warrington Guardian and has a dedicated link on the front page of the paper’s website, warringtonguardian.co.uk, asking readers to donate to the appeal.