A teenager's fall from a ladder led to a diagnosis of a rare cancer which led to surgeons amputating his leg.

Apprentice plumber William Binns, 19, had been replacing a water main at Halifax Borough Market when he fell.

X-rays at Calderdale Royal Hospital A&E showed a suspected fractured ankle.

But weeks later the pain wasn’t going away and it was then doctors discovered the former Brighouse High School pupil had a tumour.

Last week Will had his leg amputated – and just two days later he was walking with crutches and he can’t wait to return to watching football.

Will explained: “There were no broken bones so they referred me for physio but despite treatment over a number of weeks the pain wasn’t going away.

“It’s pure luck that they found the tumour when they did.

“Without the accident I don’t know how long it would have been or how big it might have been.”

It was a second X-ray that showed an 8cms tumour in his fibula and signs of small nodules on his lungs.

The tumour was diagnosed as Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare malignant tumour found in bones or muscles near to bone.

Since his diagnosis in February Will, with the support of his mum Bev Ackroyd, has faced eight rounds of chemotherapy at the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

He added: “I still have six more rounds of chemotherapy to go and some radiotherapy.

“I want to be mobile enough to drive so that I can see more of my friends and go see Bradford City.

“My mum, girlfriend Emily, my brothers and my friends and family have all been great and their support has helped me a lot.”

William Binns, of Southowram, who had his leg amputated to rid his rare cancer. Famiyl launch fundraising drive to support Teenage Cancer Trust

Will’s mum Bev thanked family and friends for their “unwavering support, adding: “I am so proud of Will. He has to endure some horrible treatment and has coped amazingly with having to lose a leg but he still has a long way to go.

“It is really important to raise awareness of this horrible disease so people know what to look out for. ”

Ewing’s Sarcoma is the second most common primary bone cancer in children and young people and is more common in boys than girls.

In total, there are fewer than 100 cases of Ewing’s sarcoma diagnosed in the UK and Ireland each year, mostly in young people between the age of 10 and 20.

His family have formed ‘Team Will’ and are raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at the Leeds hospital.

Will’s Grandma, Patsy Hardy, is running the Lord Mayor’s stall in Halifax on October 3 to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Heather Bowen , Regional Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust (Yorkshire) said: “The way that Will’s family and friends have supported him through his own journey is to be commended.”

* People can support Will at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/WilliamBinns