A mother said a ball in memory of her seven-year-old son who died of a rare brain tumour was “everything he would have dreamed of”.

Karen Carter-Bates and Dean Bates, of Warrens Shaw Lane, Edgware, raised £10,000 at a black tie event to raise money for Charlie Charges On, a fundraising group for charity Brain Tumour Research.

The couple's son Charlie died in 2010 months after being diagnosed with the aggressive tumour and his parents launched the group - whose name is a reference to their son's love of rhinoceroses - this year.

At the event, the ballroom was decked in green, Charlie's favourite colour, and the tables were given names relating to things special to Charlie, including Spiderman, Adam Sandler and Cyprus.

Mrs Carter-Bates, who has three other children with Charlie’s father Dean, said: “Charlie would have loved it. It was wonderful.

“It was everything we could have dreamed of. It was wonderful.”

More than 180 guests attended the event including Charlie's friends from Broadfields School, Edgware, and his siblings Annabelle, seven, Tristain, four and 18-month-old Aurora.

Guests were treated to singer ‘Omar’ and his partner Collette Spinner, and a tribute act to Michael Jackson – Charlie’s favourite musician.

Mrs Carter-Bates added: “I really felt Charlie was there which was so comforting and there were a few things that made that feeling even stronger. My cousin arrived with, unbeknown to her, a rhino sticker stuck to the back of her dress, which Charlie loved.

“We had a professional photographer taking pictures of guests and some people noticed that in some of the photos there appeared to be an image of Charlie within the photographer’s background.

“It was fantastic seeing so many of Charlie’s friends at the Ball and knowing we have the love and support of their families, but it is really hard thinking that they have all started a new chapter of their lives at secondary school without him.”

Although the family set out to raise £5,000 a year when Charlie Charges On was launched in February, they have now smashed their target with a grand total of £16,000 and counting.

Even though brain tumours kill more people under 40 than any other cancer, the disease receives less than one per cent in grant money for research purposes. A day of research costs £2,740.

She added: “I’d like to do this again next year – it was so worth it though tiring. We intend to do all we can to leave a lasting legacy for Charlie.”

To sponser Charlie Charges On, click here. For more information, visit www.charliechargeson.com