A BRAVE tot has lost his two-year battle for life after suffering from a rare and debilitating brain disease.

Nicholas Robinson's heartbroken family said this week that it was a relief their little boy was now at peace.

Nicholas, of Beech Street, Great Harwood, was born a happy, healthy little boy but two years ago he was struck down by the incurable Alpers' Disease which left him unable to walk, talk or even hug his mum Stefanie, 25.

Nicholas, who would have been four in August, died at 10pm last Thursday at the Royal Blackburn Hospital with his close family by his bedside.

Throughout his illness he needed 24-hour care.

But he was admitted to hospital three weeks ago where his condition deteriorated.

Stefanie said: "He had pneumonia and he wasn't getting any better. We just knew that he wasn't going to come home this time. The only way that all this was going to come to an end was with him passing away.

"Nicholas went very peacefully and that was all we had prayed for."

The family had been with Nicholas all evening but Stefanie told her parents, Sandra and John, that they should go home to catch up on their sleep.

They each gave their grandson a kiss and he died shortly afterwards.

Stefanie said: "He was hanging in there. It was as though he thought: 'Well, if they are going home, then I might as well go now'. He chose his moment and there is obviously a sense of relief because we knew that he was suffering."

Grandmother Sandra said the family felt fortunate that they were able to enjoy Nicholas' early, healthy childhood.

She added: "We never grieved for the beautiful, clever, healthy Nick we once had. We didn't have chance because we were so busy looking after this poorly boy.

"We now feel as though we have lost two children. He took up a huge part of our life. We don't know what to do with ourselves now, we are all very restless because we have lost so much. We miss him dearly."

Nicholas and his family have spent a huge amount of time at Derian House Children's Hospice and Stefanie said the help and support from staff had been second to none.

She said: "This whole situation has made my faith stronger, it makes me appreciate things more. We have always appreciated what we had, even before Nicholas was poorly.

"We never took him for granted and I will never regret a single day of how I lived my life with him because we made the most of each and every day."

One of Stefanie's wishes was that she would one day take him to York to see where she studied at university, but time ran out for the tot.

Stefanie recalled: "I have lots of lovely memories - I remember Nicholas paddling in the river and picking flowers."

Sandra added: "Nicholas nearly died so many times since Christmas that we were expecting it. He is at peace now and that is all that matters."

A community campaign to raise money for Nicholas has almost reached the £20,000 mark.

The Nicholas Appeal will continue and the money will be donated to Derian House in his memory.

A funeral service will be held at St Bartholomew's Church, Great Harwood, today (Friday) at 12.30pm followed by cremation at Accrington.

Everyone is welcome to attend but Stefanie has asked that people wear bright clothes and bring along coloured balloons to be released on the day.