Terminally ill Sunderland football fan Bradley Lowery is “deteriorating fast”, his heartbroken family have revealed.

The six-year-old, who has captured the heart of the nation, suffers from the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma and is receiving end-of-life care.

His family revealed in an emotional Facebook post on Wednesday that the youngster has begun “breathing very fast” and his oxygen levels low.

It comes after his mum shared a poignant photo of a frail looking Bradley being cradled by his brother Kieran.

The post on Facebook read: “Bradley is deteriorating fast, his temperature is going very high his breathing very fast his oxygen levels low.

“He is sleeping most the time apart from odd times awake. We knew this was coming but we are heart broken beyond words.

“We have been told he could be like this for days it just depends on him and his body.”

Bradley’s family revealed earlier in June that the youngster has only weeks rather than months left to live.

Tests revealed “devastating” results including fast-growing tumours that have left the six-year-old short of breath.

He was taken to hospital in need of urgent care.

A highlight for many Sunderland fans this season has been seeing how striker Jermain Defoe and Bradley have struck up a remarkable friendship, which included the star footballer visiting the boy in hospital.

In May, Defoe joined Bradley to celebrate the boy’s sixth birthday along with more than 250 family and friends.