A WIRRAL schoolboy will abseil down a lighthouse next weekend for a bowel cancer charity after his grandfather was successfully treated for the disease.

Josh Griffiths, 11, from Moreton will abseil down Leasowe Lighthouse on Saturday, April 9.

And to support him, his 68-year-old granddad Bob Bell got a tattoo.

Between them, the duo have raised more than £1,000 for the charity Bowel & Cancer Research.

Their fundraising began when Mr Bell, a funeral director from Moreton, was diagnosed with bowel cancer and secondary liver cancer in 2015.

Grandson Josh, a year-six pupil at Christchurch School in Moreton held a charity cake sale when his granddad was between operations and raised £340.

Mr Bell, who is now recovering, said: "When I first heard what Josh was doing, it brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't be more proud of him.

"Then I thought I should do something as well but I wasn’t sure what. I decided to get a tattoo because it’s so 'un-me'.

"I told everyone I'd do it if Josh reached his £750 target, and it worked."

He now sports a tattoo of Mole from literary classic Wind in the Willows on his left arm, a reference to his nickname when he used to frequent the Magazine Hotel on the Mersey with two friends, called Ratty and Toad.

Mole sports the logo of the charity Bowel & Cancer Research on his rucksack.

Joining Josh for next Saturday's abseil aunties will be best friend Jay Otter, 11, who lost his granddad to bowel cancer. Also taking the plunge will be aunties Vicky and Jeni Bell.

Mr Bell will be at the bottom of the lighthouse in a spirit of encouragement, along with Josh's mum Katie Keane, his sister Scarlett, stepdad Chris and Nan Sue.

Looking ahead to the challenge, Josh said: "My mum did it when she was young and it seemed a cool way of raising money.

"I'm a bit nervous, but not very - it's probably the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.

"And when I'm at the top, I'll just think how much money we've raised.

"Even though granddad is cancer-free today, I still want to raise more money for other sufferers and their families because I know it can be really upsetting and hard to cope with."

Deborah Gilbert, chief executive of Bowel & Cancer Research said: "It's great news that Bob Bell is in recovery from bowel cancer.

"We love his tattoo, and are extremely grateful to Josh and his relatives for such a brilliant fundraising effort."

To support Josh, visit https://www.justgiving.com/JoshGriffiths