A FAMILY have launched a fundraising page to try to enable their terminally ill dad to stay at home.

Peter Cross, 51, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November.

After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy he found out his condition was terminal and the doctors gave him between 12 and 14 months to live.

A fundraising page has been launched to allow a small extension to be built onto his house which would allow him to live at home with wife Nicola, 41, and children Amie, 14, and James, 11.

The extension would house a living, sleeping and wetroom area for Peter for when he is no longer able to go up and down the stairs.

The family, of Stapler’s Heath, Great Totham, had hoped to pay for the extension with money expected from Peter’s life insurance, however they received significantly less than they were expecting, meaning the bulk of that money has had to be used to try to pay off their mortgage.

Nicola said: “We would be so grateful of any help that we can get.

“We are quite proud people. We are not ones to normally ask for help, we are usually the ones helping others. I am just not sure what else we can do.

“I took Peter to the hospital in November because I thought he was having a stroke.

“He went in for some checks and they told us that he had an aggressive brain tumour which was causing the symptoms.

“He spent about eight days in hospital when they sent him home and within three weeks he was having brain surgery.

“They discovered it was terminal soon after and he was given between 12 and 14 months to live.

“We are disappointed with the response of the insurance company. They have decided to hold back more than £100,000 which for me is the difference between being able to keep the house or not.

“It is another worry to have on top of everything else when I would far rather be looking after Peter.

“That is why we have set up this fundraising page. We are hoping to have a proper purpose-built room fitted downstairs to allow him to stay here.

“We have got two young children and want to stay together as a family for as long as we can, that has always been really important to us.”

Peter, who worked as a builder, has been unable to work since the operation.

The fundraising page has so far raised more than £1,000 to their £7,500 target.

To donate, click here.