A FAMILY in Buckfastleigh have been told their teenage son has cancer just as his identical twin brother has overcome the same life-threatening condition.

Fourteen-year-old Harry Parnell now has the all clear after fighting off the blood cancer Hodgkin Lymphoma over the last agonising 13 months.

But as he emerged from his 'touch and go' ordeal twin George was diagnosed with the same disorder.

Upbeat mum Sally Hyde declared this week: 'Our whole family is trying to come to terms with the fact we have to go through all this again. Perhaps with identical twins we will get the same positive response to treatment.'

She said from her home in Market Close: 'We were starting to get our lives back in order - despite the fear never going away - when George came to me and said he had found a lump.'

Both boys, who attend South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton, are putting a brave face on the recent turn of events.

Sally said: 'In fact both of them are very relaxed and chilled about it. Harry was known as 'The Dude' by hospital staff caring for him. And George is thinking more about possible girlfriend trouble!'

She added: 'My boys continue to amaze me with their strength. We are trying to keep everything as normal as possible - apart from hospital visits and scans. George starts his chemo next week.'

Sally, and ex-husband Matthew Parnell, have been touched by the support they have received from friends, neighbours and the wider community.

George will have the same life-saving clinical trial treatment that worked so well for brother Harry.

Sincing coming successfully through his treatment in January, Harry has completed the Ten Tors event with George and their South Brent scouts' group. He now has his sights fixed on Duke of Edinburgh honours.

The pair, who have an elder brother Jack and little sister Holly Hyde, will celebrate their 15th birthday on October 26.

Sally's immediate response to round two of the prolonged nightmare was to join forces with pal Abi Parker to help raise funds for Cancer Research and the medical trials which crucially saved Harry's life. Abi has a friend, Caren (crrct) Storer, who has the same cancer as the twins.

To this end the pair have organised a charity coffee morning and prize raffle in Buckfastleigh Town Hall on October 12 from 11am to 2pm.

Sally and her pal have been overwhelmed by the readiness of townspeople to help them achieve their ambition of boosting funds for the charity.

'The town has been so supportive of our family. I have thrown myself into helping organising this event in the hope it will keep me busy and take my mind off everything,' she said.

Numerous prizes have been donated for the raffle, and more than £300 in donations has already been received - including a welcome £100 boost from Buckfastleigh Primary School, the twins' old school.

And Sally's local pub - the Globe - has offered to donate all the refreshments on the day.

She is thrilled that the pre-event cash donations have matched the financial target which had originally been set for the coffee morning.

Now she hopes the Town Hall gathering will boost the total to £500.

'Everyone is invited. The more the merrier!' said Sally.