Nova Yates was just two years old in July 2020 when he started to lose his balance and the left side of his face started to droop, his mum Heather, 26, said.

After being rushed to hospital at the height of lockdown, Nova underwent a huge array of tests before an emergency 10 hour operation after a growth was found on his brain.

Due to the location of the growth and main blood vessels being entangled, Nova became an inpatient and spent the next 10 days recovering in hospital.

Following an "anxious" eight week wait for his parents Heather and Danny, Nova - who loves dinosaurs - was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of brain cancer.

His case has been sent around the world to be assessed by doctors and he has spent the majority of the last two years in hospital.

However, Heather and Danny, from Bramley, have been given the devastating news that Nova's cancer is now terminal and he has been given just months to live.

The news has devastated the family and hundreds of friends and families who have tracked his valiant fight against his condition in the next two years.

Since his diagnosis, hundreds of well-wishers have kept track of his progress through news articles and updates shared by Heather.

On Wednesday morning (September 7), Nova beamed as he walked to school with his older sister Zarah for his first day at reception.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Heather said she couldn’t believe how brave her son was.

She said: “Back in May when we were told Nova’s cancer was terminal and only had months to live, I didn’t think he’d return to school after the Easter holidays, never mind after summer holidays and be starting in Reception full time.

"Zarah is also going into Year 3 looking all grown up.

"They both strolled in their new classrooms without a care in the world.

"We are so proud.”

Defiant four-year-old starts school four months after terminal cancer diagnosis alongside proud sister