A very sick little boy who touched the hearts of people across the county has died aged eight.

Ty Rydqvisthas from Sheerness was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was five but his family made the heart-breaking decision to stop treatment after he relapsed.

Ever since, they made it their mission to make him as comfortable as possible.

The youngster has been crossing off his bucket list with the help of hundreds of people in the community. He also had help from Rainham-based cancer charity My Shining Star.

At 8.15pm on Thursday (May 27) a message was posted on the charity's Facebook page from Ty's family. It read: "The bravest, the strongest, the most amazing little boy took his last breath this morning around 7.15am with his mummy laying beside him – his one and only happy place.

"Ty, as many will know, has been fighting with this horrible curse for over three years, not once complaining or moaning with ultimate strength making everyone laugh at every turn.

"Last Tuesday, we decided to move to Demelza Hospice in Bobbing as things got tougher and more complicated and have been here since. Everyone is obviously distraught but with the tiny consolation that Ty for the first time in years is not in pain any more.

"Thank you to the amazing nurses, the staff at Demelza, the strangers that showed him more love than some family, our family and friends that supported us. Another thank you to the amazing Anita Marinelli and her charity for helping us emotionally and at every turn to help make his dreams come true.

"Ty's pain has gone, it's now our burden to carry along with the memory of a beautiful boy hand-picked for paradise too soon."

The charity had been posting regular updates on the page, letting the community know how Ty was and what he had been getting up to.

The Halfway Houses Primary School pupil stayed at the Wolf Lodge at Port Lympne Reserve earlier this month and he and his mum Emma Bickerstaffe also had a 3D cast made of them holding hands.

At the time, a post on the 'Timecast - 3D life casting for all ages' Facebook page said: "Today I had the pleasure of casting eight-year-old Ty and his mummy Emma at their home.

"I can honestly say today after leaving the family I cried and felt so devastated that this family have to go through this.

"I'm also glad that I have been able to make this memory for Ty's mum to have forever. I know how much this will mean to Emma.

"My heart goes out to Ty and everyone who loves this little boy."

In April, he also spent a "magical" weekend having a sleepover inside dinosaur-themed tents and an igloo with his childhood friend.

Tributes to the youngster, who loved Lego, his teddies, and his spaniel dog called Toast, have flooded in on social media.

Anita Marinelli, My Shining Star founder, said: "We are so incredibly sad to share this news with you all but I want to thank every single person that has supported My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity in making some wonderful last memories for Ty."

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