Thousands of people have signed up as potential bone marrow donors after a cast member on The Only Way is Essex appealed for help when his mother was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

Bobby Cole Norris’s mother, Kym Norris, 54, of Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but has been told her best chance of survival is a transplant.

Following her son’s appeal, 2,100 people have now signed up to be tested, compared to just 171 in the whole of last year.

"One of those could be a match for mum,” Cole Norris said.

"It will feel better than winning the lottery when mum finds her donor.

“I would like to know who they are so I can thank them personally.” 

Describing his reaction to the diagnosis, Cole Norris said: “I'm devastated, it's the worst news you can ever be told. 

"The last few weeks have felt like I have been living a nightmare, and I can't wake up from it."

Bobby is backing an Anthony Nolan campaign launched a fortnight ago, calling on people aged 16 to 30 to “save a stranger’s life”.

The TOWIE star urged followers to sign up on Twitter using the hashtag #SaveBobbysMum.

He added: “I need to keep busy looking after mum and doing whatever I can to help support her through this hard time.

"Working with Anthony Nolan is keeping me busy. There are so many people out there looking for a match so now I'm personally involved I just want to get everyone aware of the process and how simple it is."

You can join the Anthony Nolan register, here.