JUST two days after he was born, doctors were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to amputate Ethan Naisbitt's leg to save the youngster's life.

Three years on and the Accrington boy is still fighting a catalogue of illnesses - but he now has a former international cricketer and a team of firemen on his side.

Former Lancashire and England opening batsman and TV celebrity David Lloyd - who is known as Bumble to audiences nationwide - and Hyndburn's green watch fire crew are holding a series of fundraising events to set up a trust fund for Ethan's future.

Doctors first realised there was something wrong with the tiny tot just 20 minutes after he was born.

Mum Ann, 37, explained: "His skin had turned blue.

"They rushed him to Alder Hey Children's Hospital because they thought he had a heart problem.

"He lost circulation to both his legs and his right arm."

Doctors battled to save Ethan's limbs but eventually had to amputate his left leg above the knee.

Ethan's father Simon, a sales manager, sister Rhianne, 12, and brother Brandon, nine, were by his bedside as doctors went on to diagnose a leak in the left ventricle of his heart, aortic stenosis and a heart murmur.

He suffers from asthma, an underactive thyroid and has factor-v leidon, which causes blood clotting.

The family had to wait three months before they could take him back to their Garden Street home.

Ann, who gave up her job as a teaching assistant to care for Ethan, added: "We never imagined we would be bringing him home.

"We didn't think he would survive. He is a happy, bright little boy who annoys his brother and sister everyday - but they love him to bits. We all do."

Ethan will continue to have operations at least every two years to shave off the bone in his amputated leg, as it grows faster than skin.

He has a simple prosthetic leg to learn how to walk, but it has no knee joint.

Ann said: "It does hinder him and he gets frustrated.

"On a holiday to Scotland there were children running around and he looked at me and said I can't walk'. It was heartbreaking.

"Prosthetics progress all the time. It costs a lot of money to keep up.

"We just want him to have the best opportunities he can. We may also have to buy a wheelchair or carry out modifications to the house."

The family started a trust fund for Ethan after being approached by Accrington-born cricketer David Lloyd, who has family links with Ethan's nursery in Cambridge Street Methodist Church.

Mr Lloyd will compere a fundraising auction at the King Street pub on Saturday, September 30, with signed Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers football shirts, along with cricketing memorabilia autographed by Andrew Flintoff, Ian Botham and other sporting stars.

Mr Lloyd, now a Sky Sports presenter, said: "I hope we can make a bob or two for Ethan because his family needs tremendous support.

"There are so many businesses in East Lancashire that have kind hearts and big pockets who can help too."

The event starts at 7.30pm and £5 family tickets can be brought at the pub.

A charity car wash will be held at Hyndburn Road fire station on Saturday in a bid to raise money for the cause.

l Initial bids for the signed shirts can be made by calling Ann on 07812 801873.