Seven-year-old Lewis Cross is a happy and healthy little schoolboy described as one of life's little jokers, but five years ago it was a very different story.

Seven-year-old Lewis Cross is a happy and healthy little schoolboy described as one of life's little jokers, but five years ago it was a very different story.

For when he was just two years old Lewis, from Watton, had to have an emergency operation followed by a spell in intensive care after his bowel became twisted and blocked and started to split.

To say thank you to the medical staff for caring for her little boy Karen Cross organised a mini music festival in Watton on Easter Sunday> to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

It is the third year Mrs Cross, 44, has put on the event, with the previous two fundraisers collecting more than �5,500 between them.

She said: 'We were so touched by how lovely everybody was and how they helped Lewis, and this is our way of saying thank you.

'Anybody with a child who is sick wants to know that their child is in the best possible place that they can be, and we want to help with that.'

It was April 2005 when Lewis, who has a twin brother called Ryan, developed severe stomach pains. He was referred to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N) where specialists discovered the problems with his bowel.

Lewis underwent an emergency operation lasting about five hours where about a third of his bowel was removed, before he was airlifted to GOSH. He spent three days in intensive care there before being transferred back to a ward at the N&N.

Lewis, who goes to Watton Junior School, was also fitted with an ileostomy bag to bypass part of his bowel and the bag was removed in a second operation at the N&N in May 2005.

'It was very scary. He was only two-years-old when this all happened and he was really brave with everything he went through,' said Mrs Cross.

'It makes you put things into perspective when something like that happens.

'Lewis had to go back to hospital for lots of check-ups but he was given the all clear this time last year.

'He is now a very happy, cheerful little boy, he is just one of life's little jokers.'

Music Madness at Queen's Hall in Watton featured local bands including Skasouls, Harley Street, Mid Life Crisis and Mallard, as well as the dance group Dance Unleashed.