Daniel Sewell has beaten all the odds after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

At 21-months, he is learning to speak after doctors were forced to remove a large part of his tongue and replace it with tissue from his stomach.

His parents, Alison and Richard Sewell, took him to their GP after his tongue became swollen.

Daniel was transferred to hospital in Newcastle, 30 miles from the family home, in Coronation Street, Crook, County Durham.

Doctors diagnosed rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of mouth cancer.

Mrs Sewell, 40, who has four other children, Anthony, 20, Michael, 18, Rachael, ten, and Thomas, three, said: "The doctors gave him a tracheotomy, which saved his life because he was having trouble breathing.

"Then the doctors had to remove the malignant tumour by cutting out a large part of Daniel's tongue and replacing it with muscles from his stomach lining.

"Daniel's recovery has been amazing - he has re-written the medical books. He was not expected to make such a recovery.

"He is determined, a fighter, and he is learning to talk more every day."