JOSHUA Hartley could be home next week after being given the all-clear by doctors - and eating breakfast for the first time in weeks.

The 12-year-old has been provisionally told he can head back home to Winchester Road, Romsey, as soon as Wednesday July 28.

The longed-for news comes two weeks after doctors announced that Joshua faced a fresh battle when the life-saving bone marrow transplant began attacking his body.

It also comes hot on the heels of last week's discovery of donors for two of the Hartley's other sons, Nathan, 10, and four-year-old Luke.

Yesterday the family even found out that Daniel, eight, should receive his transplant this year, with a slot booked in for October.

Dad David said: "This is great news. Joshua has recovered well, no temperatures and headaches and he is starting to eat and drink well.

"He's even been up and about and allowed out of the hospital for short periods of time. We're not sure of the exact date yet but we expect him home next week."

He added: "The news about getting the matches was fantastic and this is just a boost on top of that. Allison and I are shattered. We almost pass like ships in the night at Waterloo Station at the moment, but we're looking forward to having Joshua home."

David and Allison are now being trained by nurses in how to care for Joshua, who cannot be near large groups of people for six months until his immune system is rebuilding itself.

It was just a fortnight ago that the Romsey School pupil developed Graft Versus Host Disease, which meant the bone marrow transplant designed to save his life actually started attacking his body.

He developed high temperatures, a rash and slept for up to 18 hours a day - but was put on vital drugs which slowly eased him back to better health. Last week the family discovered that matches had been found for Nathan and Luke, who also suffer from one of the world's rarest genetic conditions, called X-Linked Lymphoproliferative disease (XLP).

It will be Daniel, however, who heads to Great Ormond Street Hospital next for his vital treatment.