Simon Cowell surprises ill toddler's mum by calling to tell her he wants to donate £25k towards son's treatment

Simon Cowell has pledged £25k to little Kian's medical appeal Credit: Joe Giddens/PA/ Facebook

Music mogul Simon Cowell has delighted the mother of a seriously ill toddler and given the family new hope after phoning to tell them he will donate £25k towards the youngster's medical treatment.

ITV News reporter Faye Barker reports:

Cowell called personally to pledge the money after hearing about the family's appeal to raise money to take three-year-old Kian Musgrove to an American clinic for specialist treatment to fight an aggressive form of cancer called neuroblastoma.

Kian needs to raise more than £500k to pay for treatment in New York after relapsing with the disease.

Mum Kat thanked Cowell in a video message posted on Newcastle's Chronicle newspaper's website after receiving the potentially life-changing call.

She said: "Thank you so much Simon Cowell for your kindness, it really means a lot, thank you so much."

Kat also posted on Facebook that she "can't sleep with happiness".

After making the call to the Musgrove family Cowell, who himself has a young son - Eric, aged two, praised Kian's bravery by posting messages of support for the toddler on Twitter.