FOUR weeks ago, Charlie Jarvis's parents were given the tragic news that their little girl's cancer had spread throughout her body.

But the family returned home from their first trip to a pioneering drug clinic in America, with renewed hope for her future.

Charlie, four, was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, a year ago.

Last month her parents Paul and Samantha were advised by her British doctor that her life might only be counted in weeks.

But now Charlie has been placed on a drug trial by the Bruzinski Clinic in Houston, Texas, aimed at slowing down the progression of her cancer.

Charlie's dad Paul said: "The results from trials of the drug have been very good in Europe and now we've just got to wait to see what happens.

"We originally planned to spend a few weeks in the US learning how to give her the drugs intravenously, but because of a complication with her other drugs the specialists have advised us to give them to her orally.

Now, from talking in terms of weeks, the US specialists are talking about how they'll be treating her in the next few months which is very encouraging." The next five months will be critical for Charlie, as the specialists wait to see whether the drug treatment slows the growth of her cancer.

Paul said: "Every child with cancer is different and it's all about waiting to see what will happen.

"Of course we would love to find that the cancer has gone into regression next time she has a scan, but we'll just continue to enjoy as much time as possible with our little girl.

"At the moment she's on top form. She's talking a lot and as soon as she's up and about she wants to go and out and meet a few of the people who've been raising all this money for her treatment."

At £5,000 a month or £60,000 a year, Charlie's drug treatment doesn't come cheap, but there are plenty of people in Swindon committed to raising as much money as for her as possible.

The Charlie Jarvis Fund now stands at £40,500 with more money pouring in every day.

Paul added: "None of this would be possible without the generosity of the people of Swindon.

"We have been so humbled by what everyone is doing for us and words aren't enough to say how much it means to us It's giving us hope."

Donations can be paid into the Charlie Jarvis Cancer Fund account held at Barclays Bank, Old Town.