A FIVE-YEAR-OLD who bravely battled cancer is set to enjoy a Christmas Day without drama tomorrow.

Plucky Jacob Goves has been hospitalised over both the last two Christmases with acute lymphoblastic leuk-aemia.

However, he is now in remission and looking forward to enjoying his first uninterrupted festive season with his family since he was diagnosed in October 2007.

Jacob has also received an early Christmas present in the form of a Little Star Award.

The Cancer Research UK trophy, a £50 TK Maxx voucher and a certificate signed by celebrities including singer Leona Lewis and runner Usain Bolt arrived after he was nominated by his godfather Craig Hawcett.

Jacob’s mother Sarah Redband, 24, from Bampton, said the award had boosted his spirits.

She said: “I think it’s done him the world of good.

“At the moment he is pining to do a lot of things his friends are doing.

“To be able to go to school with a trophy and say ‘I got this because I’m brave for what I’m going though’ has made him more cheery and excited.”

Jacob’s disease was picked up when antibiotics failed to clear up a suspected viral infection.

At the height of his illness he was visiting hospital three or four times a week, but now he only goes once every four weeks unless he is unwell.

Miss Redband said she and her fiancé Darren Goves were very proud of the way their son had dealt with his illness.

She said: “He is such a bubbly boy, even if he’s poorly.

“When we take him to the hospital because he’s unwell, the staff look at him and say ‘are you sure?’ Because he’s so cheery, he just carries on.”

Jacob will be celebrating Christmas with his sister, Tiana, two, half-brother Lewis, 12, and half-brother Callum, nine.

Miss Redband said: “The last two Christmas’s were very stressful. We couldn’t see all of the family because we spent a lot of time in the car taking Jacob to hospital.

“Hopefully it will be much nicer and much more relaxed this year. We are all looking forward to October when his treatment finishes.”

The youngster, who started at Bampton Primary School in September, is hoping there might be some army figures and DVDs, including the new Transformers film, under the Christmastree.

Helen Johnstone, from Cancer Research UK, said: “Jacob richly deserves his award.

“He has faced his treatment with great courage and still manages to smile.”

Little Star Awards recognise the bravery of under 18s who are battling cancer or have received treatment for the disease in the last five years. To nominate someone, go to cancerresearchuk.org/ littlestar.

Nominations must be received by February 28.