A TRAGIC father, whose daughter died of a brain tumour six years ago, has donated bone marrow to help save another life.

Rachael Barlow was aged just two when she was diagnosed with the illness. Despite the best efforts of doctors, she died three years later, aged five.

Now, her dad Steve is proud to have donated bone marrow to a leukaemia patient.

Rachael underwent chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, but after a short period in remission, the cancer returned, having spread to her spine.

She then went into Christie Hospital in Manchester to receive intensive daily radiotherapy for six weeks, and the cancer again went into remission, but returned six months later.

This time doctors told Steve, aged 43, and his wife, Barbara, there was nothing more they could do for Rachael. She died a year later.

Having been on the Anthony Nolan donor register for three years, Steve, of Curlew Close, Lowton, received a phone call in February telling him he was a possible match.

Earlier this month he was contacted again and told he was an exact match, but the recipient had not been well enough to have the operation.

Freelance photographer Steve travelled to London last Monday for the operation the following morning, when three litres of bone marrow was taken from the bottom of his back and both hips, to be transferred by courier to the recipient.

All Steve knows is she a female from Britain, who would have been preparing for the operation for a week.

He said: "We know what these people and their families must be going through and I consider myself very lucky to be able to give this gift of life.

"But it's kind of spooky that it has happened so close to the anniversary of Rachael's death."

Bone marrow donation can be done as many times as the body will allow and Steve, who has two other children, is keen to repeat the experience.

He said: "I would certainly do it again. I feel very proud and I would encourage anyone to register as a donor. It is not as bad as people think and it is such a special feeling -- a gift that anyone would love to receive."