The trust says it continues to have Luke's best interests at heart

North West Wales NHS Trust had said it wanted direction on "serious and difficult decisions" over the care of six-month-old Luke Winston-Jones.

His mother, Ruth, 35, had accused health officials of "playing God" with her son after they applied to the court to withdraw his treatment.

Luke has a rare genetic disorder and has been in hospital for four months.

The trust had explained it wanted direction from the High Court on some "very serious and difficult decisions."

Trust officials were to have asked the High Court to rule on whether they must continue to treat Luke.

On Tuesday night, a spokesman for the hospital trust said : "Ongoing discussions with the trust and with other hospitals have led to the application to the court being postponed for the time being, while Luke's future care is further considered.

"The trust has had, and continues to have, Luke's best interests at heart. He continues to receive all care by doctors and nurses at the hospital."

Luke's mother Ruth says she won't give up

Mrs Winston-Jones, 35, from Holyhead, Anglesey, described her son as "a little fighter" and said she refused to give up on him.

She said: "I cannot even begin to put into words how it feels as a mother to be facing this complete and utter nightmare.

"I cannot just stand by and allow my baby to die, they have all given up, but I will not.

"They want to play God with my son's life but I will not allow it. I am his mother and I will do what comes naturally to me, which is to protect him from any harm."

Luke suffers from Edwards Syndrome - also known as Trisomy 18. Babies born with the disease have an average life span of less than two months with fewer than 10% surviving more than a year.

Sufferers appear thin and frail, they fail to grow properly and have difficulty feeding.

Luke's family has formed a friendship with the Duchess of York, who telephones regularly and she sent him her favourite childhood doll called Red.

The toy is kept at his bedside in hospital alongside messages from the Duchess and her two daughters Beatrice, 16, and Eugenie, 14.

Ms Winston-Jones, who is separated and has two other children Andrew, 12, and Sophie, seven, said she would treat Luke at home if the hospital's bid was successful.

"Anybody who spends any amount of time with him can see how strong he is. Luke has not given up, so neither will we," she said.