He was a beautiful little boy, a fighter who smiled through the pain. But brave Joey Bell, who spent more than a year battling against the cancer spreading through his small, fragile body, wasn't to see his third birthday.

And today, instead of preparing for his birthday party next month, his parents Cath Allardice and Stew Bell had to organise his funeral after he died in his mother's arms.

Joey was born on June 6, 2003, and was a healthy baby until just before Christmas, 2004, when his mother noticed his stomach was distended.

The 42-year-old said: "I thought he might have a bit of a cold or was teething again. I never thought it would turn out to be what it was."

Cath, and Stew, 32, took Joey to Shotley Bridge Hospital and were immediately referred to the University Hospital in North Durham where tests showed he had a tumour in his stomach.

Joey was then sent to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where scans confirmed he had Alvernia Rhabdomyosarcoma, a malignant cancer.

The news devastated his parents and two brothers, Kevin, 17, and Tony, 11, who live in Lumley Drive, Delves Lane, Consett.

Over the next few weeks Joey had debilitating chemotherapy sessions aimed at reducing the tumour.

In April last year a scan confirmed the tumour had shrunk and surgeons removed it.

Cath said: "Joey had to have six months of what the doctors called maintenance chemotherapy and scans on his full body.

"But he began to have violent headaches. The doctors couldn't give him Codeine and he had to have morphine.

"I knew there was something very seriously wrong when they had to give him morphine."

Her worst fears were confirmed when another scan showed up two tumours in his brain.

Doctors also said the cancer was back in his stomach and had spread to his lungs and bones.

Cath said: "I was then told it was terminal and there was nothing they could do for Joey. It was terrible news.

"We brought Joey home. He was a fighter, always smiling. Despite the pain he never complained.

"He just went peacefully in my arms. We were all with him when it happened. It was so cruel.

"His brothers are gutted. We're all devastated and we haven't come to terms with his death yet."

The family have placed Joey's favourite toys in his coffin, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Barney the Dinosaur, along with a bottle of apple juice, his much-loved drink.

The funeral service will be held in Delves Lane Methodist Church on Monday at 3pm, followed by interment at Blackhill Cemetery.

The family are requesting family flowers only and donations in lieu to Ward 16 at the RVI where Joey was a patient.