TEENAGE cancer victim Stephen Sutton has been honoured with an MBE, just weeks after losing his fight against the disease.

The 19-year-old, who accepted the honour before his death on May 14, raised more than £4 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust via a social media appeal.

Today his mother Jane said although Stephen always said he did not want recognition for his charity work, even he acknowledged that to receive an MBE was "awesome".

The teenager, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 15, became a household name after his social media appeal went viral. Despite his illness, he always stayed positive, was always smiling and giving his signature "thumbs up" gesture.

Mrs Sutton said she was "truly delighted and immensely proud" that he had been recognised in the honours.

She said: "He thought it was an incredible honour to have been nominated and it definitely got the 'thumbs up'.