STAFF and children at a nursery released balloons in honour of a toddler who lost his fight against cancer.

Conner-Lee Robinson, of Meir Hay, below, would have celebrated his third birthday on Sunday.

The tot passed away on October 26 after an eight-month fight against the illness.

Yesterday, 29 helium balloons, to mark the date of his birthday, floated up to the sky from Day Care Nurseries, in Longton, where Conner-Lee spent six months of his life.

Each child who released a balloon had drawn a picture of their former classmate and attached it to the bottom.

And as the yellow-and-red balloons disappeared into the distance, children and staff sang happy birthday to Conner-Lee.

Deputy manager Kelly Frankum said the two-year-old was always in the thoughts of everyone at the nursery.

The 29-year-old, from Bucknall, said: "We wanted to do something to mark Conner-Lee's birthday and to show his parents and family that we all miss him and are still thinking about him.

"He was with us for six months and in that time he made a big impression on all the staff and made a lot of friends.

"He was a lovely, quiet, placid boy who absolutely loved cars.

"The children are probably too young to fully understand what has happened, but they knew the balloons were for Conner-Lee and they sung happy birthday for him, too.

"We will probably do the same thing again next year to make sure he's never forgotten."

Conner-Lee won the support of people all over the world after he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma last February.

Doctors gave him a 15 per cent chance of survival, and said there was an 80 per cent chance of a relapse if he got through it.

Friends and strangers pulled together to raise thousands of pounds during months of treatment.

His parents, Darren Robinson and Sarah Moult, were joined by more than 100 people for the youngster's funeral in November.

Nursery practitioner Nikki Robertson, aged 24, who lives in Longton, said: "It hit us all really hard when Conner-Lee died.

"He was a lovely boy and our thoughts are with his family."

Family friend Andrea Wall, aged 40, from Fenton, said: "A lot of fund-raising events were held to help Conner-Lee's family cover costs while they were caring for him.

"In the space of eight months we raised £10,000 and we were amazed by the response from the public.

"The money has been used to pay for his funeral and a headstone and what's left will be donated between the Cheetams children's ward and Birmingham Children's Hospital.

"It's been a very difficult time for his parents, but they have coped really well and it's so nice to see him being remembered today."