A family was "absolutely gutted" when a long-awaited kidney transplant operation was cancelled for the second time.

Last week, the Echo reported how Mark Wishick, 39, was due to donate one of his kidneys to his young son Oliver, two.

But after the family, including Mark's wife Jo, took the journey this week to the renowned Great Ormond Street children's hospital, London, tests revealed Oliver had tonsillitis.

The tonsillitis meant he was not well enough to undergo such a serious operation.

Mrs Wishick said the whole family, of Eastwood Lane South, Westcliff, were extremely disappointed the life-changing surgery had been put off and Oliver would have to continue with his ten hours of dialysis each night.

She said: "We were absolutely gutted when they told us the operations had to be cancelled.

"It's the second time it's been cancelled.

"The first time we thought it would go ahead was May 10, but the operating theatre at Guys was being audited."

Guys Hospital was scheduled to remove Mr Wishick's kidney which was to be transferred to Great Ormond Street for Oliver's transplant.

Little Oliver still spent two days in hospital with his condition, costing the family two days of travel fares to London.

"It all costs money," admitted Mrs Wishick, "and Mark had two days off work for nothing."

But the family did have some good news to report, thanks to last week's article in the Echo.

In the report, Mrs Wishick had announced she was doing a sponsored slim on behalf of the British Kidney Patient Association, of which Oliver is a member. She said: "We've had loads of people call and I will still start it on July 1."