A YOUNGSTER suffering from a rare brain condition is to have an operation thanks to the generosity of his mother's colleagues.

Samuel Robson, of the Hartlepool area, suffers from hemimegalencephaly or HME which means one half of his brain is enlarged.

Without an operation, he will have learning disabilities, epileptic seizures, facial enlargement and skin disorders.

But he now has hope the condition will be combated after his mother, Bridget Robson and her colleagues at Hartlepool College of Further Education raised £6,000 to pay for the operation. The staff held a sponsored midnight walk from Shotton to Thorpe Thewles, fancy dress, a social evening and many other events. Other cash came pouring in from companies and Hartlepool Borough Council.

Mrs Robson said: "We would like to say a big thank you to everyone for all the kind generosity and support they have given. In this situation just to say thank you doesn't seem enough to show how grateful we all are for everything everyone has done to help."