BONE MARROW matches have now been found for all four Hampshire brothers who suffer from the same rare genetic condition, the Daily Echo can reveal.

David and Allison Hartley's sons, Joshua, 12, Nathan, ten, Daniel, eight, and Luke, four, were diagnosed with the extremely rare genetic defect known as X-Linked Lympho-proliferative Syndrome, or Duncan's Syndrome, in November last year.

Doctors have said the only cure for the boys from Romsey is a bone marrow transplant.

Mrs Hartley was matched as a donor for Joshua and a potential donor was found for Daniel but matches were still required for Nathan and Luke.

Mr Hartley said today that a match was confirmed for both Nathan and Luke on Friday.

He said: "We now have a confirmed match for my last two boys. That's extremely good news. It takes a lot of pressure off us. We now have a full set, if you like, so we're obviously very pleased about that.

"It's what we were waiting for - that phone to ring with confirmation that there's some stranger out there who's been found to be a match for one of our sons to save his life. It's even better - this person is a potential match for both our sons."

Doctors have yet to decide whether Nathan, who will be the first recipient, will then donate to his younger brother, or the donor will be contacted again to donate for Luke.

"Luke doesn't really have an understanding of it, but Nathan has been beaming for the last two days," said Mr Hartley.

"He understands the severity of what they are facing and that now there is a potential cure. He's more concerned about being a potential donor for Luke though."

Josh underwent a bone marrow transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on June 9 after his mother donated stem cells through a needle injected in her arm.

No discharge date has been set for Josh as yet and last week he was unwell, as reported in the Daily Echo.

"The bone marrow transplant has gone well," said Mr Hartley. "But last week he had some temperature spikes, where his temperature went up very quickly. He felt really grotty last week but has started some treatment and seems to have that under control."

A match was found for Daniel two months ago but no dates have been set for a transplant operation for any of the boys until Josh recovers.