A YOUNG West Devon boy, currently recovering from a bone marrow transplant, put on a one man nativity shadow puppet show in his front room to raise money for charity.

Daniel Bruce, nine, from Dousland, had a bone marrow transplant recently after being diagnosed with Leukaemia in February.

Because of the operation, Daniel has been unable to go back to school at Meavy while his immune system is weak and so missed out on taking part in the school's nativity play.

While not at school Daniel is being home-schooled by teacher Frances Harland from the South and West Devon Personalised Learning Service. Together the pair came up with the idea of putting on a puppet show for Daniel's family.

Daniel adapted the nativity story, wrote a script and made all the puppets for the show.

Daniel's mother Sarah Bruce said: 'The production was originally just going to be seen by Daniel's grandparents so he had an audience but it then grew when Daniel decided to print tickets and charge £1 for them to go to CLIC Sargent. One of our neighbours suggested we invite other neighbours as well.

'He did it all, even played music in between each scene — he played three carols on the cornet.

He was really buzzing from it. All the neighbours squashed into the lounge and we made mince pies and tea.'

After Daniel was diagnosed with Leukaemia he stayed in a CLIC Sargent house, in which his brothers were able to visit and stay with him too, which is why Daniel decided to raise money for the charity.

'I don't know what we would have done without CLIC Sargent,' said Sarah, 'I don't know how people can cope without their help. Daniel really wanted to raise money for CLIC, but we were only expecting to raise about £10.'

Daniel in fact managed to raise £85 through the generosity of neighbours.

'We even had money passed to us from people who were unable to come and watch Daniel, and we had a donation from the owner of the Dousland Post Office and a couple of Daniel's friends from Meavy School gave some of their pocket money.

'He was thrilled with how it went, he's come away really confident.'

Daniel's puppet show was filmed and all the pupils at Meavy School were treated to a viewing of it recently.

Sarah expressed thanks to Frances as well as everyone who donated.

Daniel is looking forward to hopefully returning to school in February.