The mother of a cancer patient who sparked Peter Kay's return to the stage has said their fight against the disease must continue.

Laura Nuttall, 21, from Barrowford, was given 12-18 months to live when she was diagnosed with an aggressive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme aged 18.

Peter Kay performed two sold-out sets at Manchester’s O2 Apollo on Saturday to raise money for the 21-year-old to have immunotherapy treatment in Germany.

Her mother Nicola said the gigs were “brilliant” but after the “amazing day” on Saturday, the family discovered a friend of Miss Nuttall’s with the same diagnosis had died.

She said: “It has really brought home to us that this has all been great but at the end of the day this is still a terminal diagnosis.

“It has been a really happy weekend and this has just come round and smacked us on the back of the head.”

Kay returned to the stage after a break from the public eye. Delighted audiences gave him a standing ovation as his matinee set began.

Mrs Nuttall said: “It was so nice to be with all those laughing people having a good time.

“It was like he had never been away.

“Laura was looking so well and she really enjoyed it. The whole thing was brilliant for all of us as a family.”

The Doing it For Laura gigs were organised in the space of about three weeks after Mrs Nuttall contacted Kay, who she and her husband Mark knew from working at Granada television, and asked if he would do a 10-minute slot at a charity ball.

Instead, he offered to contact the Apollo and see if they had any dates free.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Miss Nuttall said: “He can make anything funny, he’s just got that natural talent. It’s amazing to be around him.”

She added: “When I was 18, I was told I going to live maybe for another, possibly, 18 months.

“When you get told that sort of news when you’re that young you have got to resort to things like positivity and laughter because sometimes that is all you’ve really got.”

The total amount raised from the performances has yet to be counted but Mrs Nuttall said about £5,000 was raised just from selling T-shirts on a merchandise stall.

Money for the Brain Tumour Charity was also collected at the venue.