Fingers are crossed that baby Ryan Wright will be home to spend Christmas with his family in North Walsham after intensive chemotherapy for the rare cancer, neuroblastoma.

The hopeful news comes as fund-raising for Ryan broke through the first-stage �20,000 barrier after only four months.

Ryan's mum Hayley said the family was 'absolutely amazed, overwhelmed and very thankful' at the public response to their fund-raising appeal.

The Wrights have been warned there is a strong likelihood Ryan's cancer will return in the next few years and believe specialist treatment in Germany, costing up to �200,000, could then be his only hope.

Mrs Wright said they had been told �20,000 would be enough to start the treatment if it was needed.

'It's very comforting for us to know that money is there now. We are so grateful to everyone - I can't thank them enough,' she added.

One-year-old Ryan is in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, recovering from a week's gruelling treatment aimed at destroying any remaining cancer cells following an operation to remove a primary tumour on his adrenal gland.

On a different occasion he had another tumour, in an eye socket, shrunk by chemotherapy. The disease and treatment have left Ryan permanently blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other.

Mrs Wright said she and husband Darren hoped Ryan would be well enough to come home in mid December.

They could not wait to have their youngest son back with them in Fairview Road and planned to flood their home with Christmas lights for him.

'It needs to be really bright so that Ryan can see something. We want to make a Santa's grotto and have a really magical, special Christmas,' she added.

The battling tot, who was receiving morphine to control pain, was managing to play and laugh and had enjoyed a visit from his two older brothers.

Among a host of fund-raising events already held, a charity auction last month at North Walsham's Olive Tree restaurant raised a total of �3,127. A capacity audience enjoyed food, a Michael Bubl� tribute act and prizes including tickets to West End shows. And a Bike in Ya Boxers sponsored ride has swelled the coffers by nearly �8,000.

If the cash is not needed for Ryan it will be donated to the charity Families Against Neuroblastoma, which has been supporting the Wrights.