TENNIS fan Oscar Hughes has rallied after undergoing an 11-hour operation to remove a large brain tumour.

His recovery and morale have been boosted by Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and former British number one Tim Henman after they sent him a signed tennis shirt.

Now Oscar, eight, of Dunnington, near York, wants to help other children with cancer by selling balloons at Dunnington Fair tomorrow afternoon to raise funds for the Yorkshire Candlelighters charity.

Oscar, who has been playing tennis since he was two and aims to one day make it into Yorkshire’s junior tennis squad, is also a keen footballer and he fell ill earlier this year while returning home from amatch playing for Dunnington under-nines, in which he had scored a hat-trick.

“He fell asleep in the car, which was unusual.

‘‘Then he went to bed when he got home,” said his father, Ian, 43, a commercial director.

“We thought it was flu, but after a couple of days he was getting worse and eventually he underwent a scan, which revealed he had a brain tumour at the top of his spine, which was blocking the flow of fluid to the brain.

“He was rushed to Leeds General Infirrmary, where he underwent an emergency 11-hour operation.

‘‘Since then, he has undergone 31 radiotherapy treatments and chemotherapy every week and will continue with weaker doses of chemo until May next year.

“The prognosis is very good and he has been recuperating and recovering at home and has gone back to school for a number of half-days and should return full-time after the holidays, all being well.”

Oscar, who goes to Dunnington Primary School, and has two brothers, Sebastian, ten, and Lucas, four, decided he wanted to do something for the Candlelighters.

“They have been fabulous throughout,” said Ian.

“They stayed with him during radiotherapy to keep him occupied, they donated a holiday at Center Parcs for the whole family and they help with transport to hospital for those who need it. Oscar decided to sell balloons for a ballloon release at Dunnington fair, when he’ll be accompanied by York City striker Richard Cresswell, who lives in the village and is a family friend.”

Ian said Oscar’s coach at the David Lloyd centre in York, Marius Barnard, also worked as a commentator for Wimbledon Live Radio and had assisted in getting Andy Murray and Tin Henman to sign the shirt for him.

“Oscar was very chuffed when he got it and you can hardly get him out of it now. It was a real morale booster.”

Oscar said: “I was very happy when I got it.”

His mother Marie, 37, said doctors had told her Oscar’s sporting fitness had helped him to get through the months of treatment.