"We have lost our little star." Those were the words of heartbroken York dad Graham Connell, whose brave little son, Louis, has finally lost his five-year battle with leukaemia. He was just eight years old.

"He brought a lot of inspiration to people - he was just one in a million," said Graham, 39. "For him to be taken away at such a young age is a very sad loss."

Louis, from Newland Park Drive, York, was only three when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He underwent years of painful treatment, including cranial radiation.

His astonishing courage in dealing with the disease was recognised several times over the years - and, in 2005, he was one of three brave York children to be named Child of the Year in our Community Pride awards.

Back in 2004, he was named by Cancer Research UK's Christmas Little Star appeal, which honours youngsters touched by the disease.

That was only three weeks after he underwent a bone marrow transplant for which his brother, Joseph, then just 20 months and now three, was the donor.

Only last Christmas he was celebrating the festive season free of the cancer that had plagued him for years - but in January his family were told his leukaemia had returned.

During his short life, Louis has enjoyed trips abroad, including a visit on Eurostar to Eurodisney.

"Over the five years of his illness, we've done everything for him - he's been everywhere," said Graham.

"A couple of years ago, my boss paid for him to go to meet Santa in Lapland for the day. That was one of the best times he'd had."

Throughout the years Louis suffered from leukaemia, he never let his illness get him down, said his dad.

"It's been with him for most of his life," said Graham. "At the hospital, everybody knew him because he was so loud.

"He was such a fighter. He never once complained. He was a star - he's going to be very, very sadly missed. He was such a character.

"The blessing we have which we'll remember is that he died with a smile on his face."

Updated: 14:45 Friday, April 28, 2006