TODDLER friends of a two-year-old Dilton Marsh boy who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour were the first to raise money to help his family.

Alexander Vincon has been a member of the Musical Monsters group in Warminster since he was born. He is battling the life-threatening tumour after being first diagnosed three weeks ago when with his parents in Romania.

The youngster has undergone several tests at Southampton General Hospital and is due to return there in the coming weeks for treatment.

Amanda Williams, 35, from Minster View, Warminster, set up Musical Monsters five years ago. She said: “It really brings it home that it could happen to anybody.

“It’s just happened so quickly. He was a bubbly, happy little boy and there was no sign of it.

“I met his mum Raluka three years ago when she offered to help at the group and she was pregnant with him at the same time I was with pregnant with my twins.

“They were all born ten days apart from each other and have been going to the same groups and doing the same stuff and even at this age they are best friends. It’s just heartbreaking.”

Mr and Mrs Vincon, who are still coming to terms with their son’s diagnosis, agreed to allow the paper to use pictures of themselves with Alexander, taken recently by photographer Matt Curtis.

The group held a charity event, with children bringing in old toys and cupcakes to sell. Along with the sale of refreshments, £150 was raised.

Mrs Williams, 35, from Minster View, Warminster, added: “I went to see them on Tuesday and it’s not very good news. The only thing we could do was to try and do some fundraising.

“We’ve decided to call it Alexander’s Journey as no matter what happens it’s been a journey and although his parents don’t need the money we wanted to collect it and say ‘we want you to have this’.

“Rev Carole Owen said a prayer for him and we tried to explain to the children that he’d hurt his head and is trying to get better, and they seemed to really understand.”

Meeting every Friday at the Minster Church in Warminster, the group is open to newborns and toddlers, allowing them to get hands on with instruments from tambourines to drums. To donate, contact the Minster Church on 01985 215460.