An 8-year-old boy who is fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer has celebrated his birthday with school friends during a break from life-saving treatment in Germany.

Adam Bird, from Epsom, who suffers with childhood cancer neuroblastoma, celebrated his birthday with friends from Wallace Fields Junior School in Epsom at a football party arranged by his parents on Sunday (November 6).

And there was good news with the presents.

He was told on Friday that his cancer is now stable.

Adam was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just five years old and underwent two years of intensive cancer treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell harvests and abdominal surgery at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton.

Unfortunately this treatment was unsuccessful and with no further options available in the UK his parents, supported by the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance, took him to Germany to receive expensive immunotherapy treatment.

Adam has completed three of five planned treatment cycles in Germany, each involving one week of out-patient visits with daily injections, followed by a five-day hospital stay with daily injections and a continuous infusion of antibodies to help his immune system identify and fight the cancer.

After a scan at Royal Marsden in Sutton, the family were told last Friday that Adam’s cancer is now ‘stable’.

Adam’s Dad, Nick, said: "We had a little football party in our garden with a few of his friends from school, which Adam really enjoyed."

Adam, has missed much of his first term at school due to his treatment.

Mr Bird said: "He goes to school for two weeks and then has three weeks off for treatment.

"He doesn't complain about it, to him that's just the routine.

"He always likes going back to school to see his friends though."

Even after Adam finishes treatment in Germany, he may still need further treatment in America.

Mr Bird said: "We are acutely aware that at some stage, if Adam’s scans remain stable, we will have to take him off treatment, and simply hope the cancer does not begin growing again.

“It’s a scary thought, and an enormous responsibility to bear."

The family have so far raised nearly £400,000 to fund Adam’s treatment.

Mr Bird added: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the local community for all their amazing support.”

For more information and to donate to Adam’s appeal visit justgiving.com/adambirdappeal