BRAVE toddler Joshua Westwell is making a "brilliant" recovery in a hospital intensive care unit after spending his second birthday undergoing a six-hour operation to remove a tumour from his liver.

After a third cancelled operation, the surgery was finally performed at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury.

Joshua's parents Paul Westwell and Karen Skinner, of Bacup, faced an agonising 24-hour delay to the operation when surgeons cancelled Tuesday's operation, saying there were not enough staff for the theatre.

The operation went ahead on Wednesday

The tumour had not taken away as much of his liver as feared.

Surgeons also removed his appendix and gall bladder.

Aunt Wendy Skinner said: "Joshua is getting on briliantly.

"It is great.

"The operation was really straightforward, with no complications.

"The tumour was smaller than they thought.

"They have taken away the immediate area but it is not half of his liver as was feared."

Wendy said: "When I visited his eyes were open and he was alert, saying the odd word.

"It is great and a big relief.

"We now need to keep praying that his speedy recovery continues."

Wendy added: "Karen and Paul are so pleased and thankful things have gone so well.

"The hospital staff have been so nice and helpful and kept us so well informed."

It was only at the toddler's routine 18-month check-up that doctors noticed something was wrong and sent him for tests, which was when the cancer was diagnosed.

The surgery was originally scheduled for early August, which would have meant Joshua would have been home to celebrate his second birthday.

Now Paul and Karen are planning a birthday party when he leaves hospital in an expected 10 days' time.

The couple also have an eight-month-old daughter, Chloe, whom they took to the hospital with them to take their mind off the operation.

Next year the family has booked to go to Euro Disney as a special treat for Joshua.