Medway teenager Jack Blanchard suffered a brutal beating by a gang of youths last month.

Since the attack parents Maxine and Steven have maintained a 24-hour vigil at King's College Hospital, London.

The 13-year old Rainham Mark Grammar School pupil, was taken there on July 23 after suffering head injuries at Parkwood Green, Rainham.

Jack was unconscious for the first 21 days, having suffered brain damage.

He is still unable to walk unaided and is partially paralysed down the left hand side of his body.

Despite early fears for his future, Maxine and Steven now have hope. It will take months. but Jack is expected to recover and be able to live a normal life.

Dad Steven, 40, speaking for the first time, said: "There have been dark moments right from the start.

"Certainly when we went in to ICU I looked at him and in my head I was planning a funeral.

"A couple of consultants said 'don't expect too much.'

"When he did come out of his unconscious state his eyes were still closed and he was fighting everybody off.

"It was just one of those classic head injury things and I thought to myself, 'that's it that's all you're going to get back, you're never going to see that boy again.'"