A mum has spoken out on Facebook after receiving ‘hate mail’ accusing her of faking her son’s terminal cancer to scam money from the public.

Five-year-old twin Zack Barrett was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumour in November and he was given just 18 months to live with radiotherapy treatment.

The Kirkheaton family, which includes mum Katie, dad Ryan and Zack’s identical twin Leo, set up a fundraising appeal which has attracted an amazing £40,395 in just six months.

The cash will be used for Zack’s treatments and future research to benefit others.

Zack Barrett, who has been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour

But after a national magazine featured their story, one ‘reader’ wrote to Mrs Barrett with a twisted claim that she is hoaxing her child is sick.

An extract from the letter reads: “I suppose it’s a means of extracting hundreds of thousands of pounds through gullible people who are easily conned by parents using their children as bait to get money.”

The sick, anonymous letter goes on to further cause distress by claiming Zack looked “too healthy.”

The letter reads: “Yes, Zack looks very healthy indeed. It does not look to me as if he has cancer yet you say time is running out.

“How can parents like you use your lovely son to con people? You are wicked indeed!”

Zack’s mum Katie posted the letter on Facebook and added: “So we come home to this. Angry is not the word. How dare someone think I would make this up and use my son for money. You have no idea about my family and our situation. I would give anything for Zack not to be ill but he is.”

She went on to condemn the writer for hiding behind their anonymous letter.

She added: “Plus you’re not even big enough that you do it anonymous if you came to me I’d prove I don’t lie.”

Hate mail sent to Zack Barrett's family. Zack is diagnosed with cancer.

The community has further backed Katie’s response and flooded social media to condemn the writer and look to turn it into a way to further promote the actual campaign.

Sara Pogson wrote: “Unbelievable. What a disgusting individual. Ignore and concentrate on your family and making more lovely memories xxx”

Jo Foggo posted: “That’s disgusting he’s such a brave little boy and you deserve to spend as much quality time as a family as possible some people are so cruel x”

To donate to Zack’s appeal go to https:// www.gofundme.com/zack-barrett/donate