IT is likely to be a Christmas in hospital for the youngest of four Hampshire brothers who needs a bone marrow transplant.

Luke Hartley is the last of the Hartley brothers, from Romsey, who needs a successful bone marrow transplant to cure him of a life-threatening genetic condition.

He underwent a bone marrow transplant in June, with the donor being his brother Nathan, but this was unsuccessful.

The seven-year-old is now expected to travel back up to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital in November for a second transplant from a different, anonymous, donor.

Dad David Hartley told the Daily Echo: "We have got very mixed feelings. Contemplating a fifth bone marrow transplant has been very hard.

"But we are delighted and relieved about this possible donor, otherwise Luke would have been left in no man's land, unable to go back to school or places where there are lots of people.

"We know the risks of bone marrow transplants probably more than any other family in the country now, so we are prepared."

Since Luke had his first attempted transplant earlier this year, he has had to remain in semi-isolation at home as the chemotherapy ahead of the transplant left him with no immune system.

David said the transplant is not definite yet but they are expecting to get confirmation in the next couple of weeks.

Luke is said to be very positive and not worried about the likelihood of spending Christmas in hospital. David added: "Luke thinks Christmas in hospital would be great. His brother, Daniel, had his transplant three years ago at Christmas and the hospital staff made it wonderful for him.

"But as a family, we would be split."

The four Hartley boys were all diagnosed with the potentially fatal X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, or Duncan's Disease, in November 2003.

A bone marrow transplant is the only cure for the condition, which leaves sufferers with no immunity against illnesses such as glandular fever and cancer of the blood. The boys' parents were told their sons were unlikely to live into their teenage years without transplants.

Joshua, 15, Nathan, 13, and Daniel,11, have already had successful bone marrow transplants.