A mother who lost her seven-year-old son to a brain tumour condemned the “unacceptable” amount of money spent on finding a cure.

Karen Carter-Bates and her husband Dean Bates, of Warrens Shaw Lane, Edgware, are calling on the Government to invest more in research for new treatments for the disease.

The couple lost their “bright and bubbly” son Charlie to a tumour four years ago and have since set up Charlie Charges On in his honour, to raise money for charity Brain Tumour Research.

After setting a goal of raising £5,000 a year when Charlie Charges was set up last February, they have so far raised £16,000 in Charlie’s memory.

They were among patients and their families, carers, scientists and charities who presented a new manifesto to MPs at Westminster from the charity Brain Tumour Research last Tuesday.

Mrs Carter-Bates said: “Time goes by but the pain of losing Charlie is always with us. It was good to meet others affected and learn about the vital work which Brain Tumour Research is doing on behalf of us all.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this devastating disease.

“This is unacceptable.”