A Bicester family is following in the footsteps of a Leeds couple controversially allowed to have IVF treatment so they can conceive a baby that could cure their son.

Charlie Whitaker, three, was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan anaemia when he was six months old.

To keep him alive, he has a blood transfusion at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, every three weeks and has to have a needle inserted into his stomach five nights a week. This releases drugs to stop the build-up of iron from the transfusions that can cause liver and heart failure.

Charlie's mother, Michelle, said: "He wakes up crying because he has pulled the needle; it's very uncomfortable and painful for him."

The only hope of curing Charlie is if his parents, Michelle and Jayson, of Isis Avenue, Bicester, have a baby with matching stem cells.

Mrs Whitaker's eggs would be screened to see if there was a tissue match. If so, they would be fertilised and implanted into her and she would hopefully become pregnant. The cells would be taken from the baby's umbilical cord to treat Charlie.

Mrs Whitaker said there was a greater chance of getting a tissue match through IVF than having a baby naturally. Cells from their daughter Emily, now seven months old, did not match.

The couple need permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and a court.

Their hopes have been boosted by its landmark decision to allow Shahana and Raj Hashmi, of Leeds, IVF in a bid to cure son Zain of the potentially fatal disease thalassaemia. He needs a viable bone marrow transplant.

The decision was condemned by pro-life campaigners, although the HFEA denies the move will result in a flood of "designer babies".

Mrs Whitaker said: "We always wanted three or four children and this way we will get the best of both worlds. A cure for Charlie and another baby which we want."

The family does not know how much the treatment will cost. Mr Whitaker said: "We will find the money somehow, even if we have to remortgage the house we will do it. "