A SOUTHAMPTON rock star who has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer desperately needs to raise vital funds for a potentially life-saving treatment.

Delays' frontman Greg Gilbert began chemotherapy for stage four bowel cancer and secondary lung cancer last Wednesday.

The father-of-two, who lives in Bitterne Park, is now trying to raise £100,000 for an alternative treatment called Avastin, which is not available on the NHS.

He has already hit £60,000 in just three days and donations are continuing to be made by fans and well-wishers.

The alternative treatment can improve his chances of survival by up to 40 per cent, meaning it may be his only chance of seeing his two baby daughters grow up.

Since launching his Go Fund Me page today Greg's fans, family and friends have rallied together raising almost £20,000 in as little as half a day.

And by this morning the appeal had raised more than half of its target having passed the £54,000 mark.

Among the hundreds of people who have donated to the cause was singer Ellie Goulding, who contributed £1,000.

For the last two years, the 40-year-old former Bitterne Park School pupil believed he had been suffering with irritable bowel syndrome but in October he began to experience severe abdomen pains and vomiting. After being admitted to A&E he underwent a number of tests which revealed he had something much more sinister.

On his Go Fund Me page, Greg's partner Stacey said: "We were told this heart breaking news on our daughter Bay’s first birthday.

"I cannot put into words the terror and shock of this moment. To hear Greg ask the consultant how long he had left to live is the darkest moment of my life and something that will haunt me forever."

Avastin is a new type of immunotherapy which targets cancerous cells helping the body to fight, kill and become immune to cancer.

Surgeons have said they cannot do anything for the main tumour in Greg's bowels because it is so large but they are hoping the chemotherapy will shrink it enough to be operated on while the Avastin helps target the cancer which has spread and dotted around his lungs.

Greg’s band Delays is one of the most successful bands to come out of Southampton, enjoying top 30 hits such as Long Time Coming and Nearer Than Heaven.

The group has also had their music featured in films and on adverts, toured globally and played to huge crowds at festivals like the Isle of Wight.

Click here to donate and help him get treatment.