Young mum Melany Price has raised more than half of the target she set in aid of a brain tumour charity.

Melany, whose son Matthew has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, said she would have her head shaved if donations to Brain Tumour UK reached £1,000 by the end of next month.

The family’s story was featured in last week’s Mercury with an appeal for people to make donations, either via a website or by mobile phone.

By Wednesday the total had reached £513. To encourage more donations, some of Melany's friends had said they would do their daily school run in their pyjamas once £500 had been pledged.

Melissa Calladine, Kirsty Gear, Becky Gear and Wendy Cole have now said they will spend 48 hours in their pyjamas to encourage more support.

Matthew, who will be four next month, was diagnosed with a very rare kind of tumour after he had a seizure and was rushed to Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital in London.

Melany and her partner Robert, from Aycliffe, received support from the charity Brain Tumour UK, which is committed to fighting brain tumours by providing support, funding research and raising awareness.

So they decided to raise £1,000 for the charity, and Melany is set to have her head shaved on July 30 if that target is reached.

She said: “Cutting off my nice, much loved hair does not come close to what Matthew has been through.”

Donations can be made by texting MTSJ61 and the amount (for example £5) to 70070, or via the website www.justgiving.com/melany-price, and UK taxpayers can Gift Aid their donations.