A BABY has been rewarded for his brave struggle against cancer.

Tristan Bamford, who is only five and half months old, has endured gruelling treatment for neuroblastoma, a very rare form of cancer.

He has been honoured with Cancer Research UK's Little Star Award, which recognises the challenges faced by children with the disease.

Proud parents Mark, 26, and Natasha Bamford, 24, of High Street, Wootton Bassett, said their son had managed to keep smiling.

Natasha, who works in packaging design, said: "His dad and I are very proud of him. He's never going to remember it, but we'll never forget."

Helen Johnstone, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Tristan is an outstanding example of the courage children show, making families so proud of them."

The first-time parents realised there was a problem when Tristan was 10 weeks old. Natasha raised the concern at a check-up because he was constantly being sick.

Tristan's treatment included chemotherapy at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Mr Bamford, a warehouse supervisor in Swindon, said: "It was up and down - one day he'd be good and the next day he'd get an infection.

"The fact is on the ward you see children who are worse off than Tristan. We feel quite lucky really."

The couple nominated their son for the award after seeing the Little Star information on the ward.

Natasha added: "He has been a little star throughout his treatment."

Mrs Johnstone said: " The award is really an acknowledgement of what the whole family goes through.

"You can imagine what it is like for a young couple like Mark and Natasha finding out that their child is sick."

Though Tristan will have to have regular check-ups until he is 18, it is hoped the only lasting side effect will be an addiction to television.

Tristan was not able to leave his hospital bed for four or five weeks. "He was watching darts and snooker all the time," said Mark.