A YOUNG cancer patient was treated to a great day with some exotic animals.

Sebastian Stevens, five, from Burgess Hill, was offered the chance to meet lizards, snakes and dragons by a local reptile park.

Back in December, The Argus ran a piece of Sebastian’s battle with sarcoma of the bladder and prostate.

The youngster had been battling the disease since he was 18 months old.

Reptile keeper Deano Mac, who runs Deano’s Snake Shack at The Mac’s Farm in Ditchling, saw the story and offered Sebastian the chance to have a fun day out meeting his scaly friends.

Sebastian’s mother Natasha Penney said her son, who is currently in good health, loved the entire experience.

She said: “Sebastian had the most amazing experience at Deano’s meeting all sorts of animals.

“He was so excited he struggled to sit still.

“It is a fantastic place, with rescued reptiles that are all so well behaved and obviously well loved.

“They were so gentle with Seb and allowed him to handle and stroke them.

“It was such a great experience for him - he cried all the way home as he didn’t want it to end.”

It is not the first new experience Sebastian has had in the last few months.

Before Christmas he was one of a several children who were part of a Christmas advertising campaign by supermarket chain Morrisons.

It was made in partnership with cancer charity Clic Sargent and was designed to raise awareness of how children with cancer are sometimes separated from their families over the festive period.

Over at the Snake Shack Deano often hosts young visitors from children’s charities.

He said it is always a delight to give children who have been through struggles something nice to look forward to.