JUST hours after she completed her last course of radiotherapy little Deanna Radcliffe was flying out for a trip of a lifetime to meet Father Christmas.

Deanna, who will be five next week, was found to have an inoperable tumour behind her right eye and has spent the last four weeks receiving intensive radiotherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester. Doctors and her parents now hope the cancer is clear.

She was also treated at Manchester Eye Hospital and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where she received chemotherapy to shrink the tumour.

And it is through Pendlebury and the charity Wish Upon A Star that together with 100 other children she was able to fly out to meet Santa.

It was touch and go if she would be able to make the trip because her last course of treatment finished at 2.30pm and she had to be at Manchester Airport for the flight to Lapland at 5.30am the next day.

Her mum Liz, of Regent Street, Bacup, said: "We went straight from the hospital to the Holiday Inn at the airport and then got on the plane at 8am.

"In the airport there were Manchester United and Manchester City mascots, someone was dressed up as Dangermouse and there were magicians and clowns.

"Saracen from Gladiators was there and went on the trip and Coronation Street stars Nikki Sanderson (Candice) and Sue Cleaver (Eileen) were there.

"She was given a backpack and inside was a camera to take her own pictures, a soft toy, books and chocolates."

Deanna had to leave her sister Danielle, who will be nine next week, and dad Paul at home, but she had plenty of tales to tell them.

When the plane landed in Lapland the children were greeted by huge snowmen, taken on a coach ride through the enchanted forest and went on husky rides, reindeer rides, were pulled in a sleigh by Saracen, had a snowball fight and went on a snowmobile when Liz drove. "It was brill," said Liz.

They went for a meal in Santa Claus village and then sang a special song to summon Santa who duly appeared.

Deanna took Emily with her. The toy also sat on her lap through every course of radiotherapy and proudly bears a sticker saying she was very still while she received the treatment.

After telling Father Christmas what she wanted and receiving a toy Rudolph from his she met a real Reindeer and then discovered the snow slides which she thought were the best.

Deanna said: "I told Santa that I wanted a doll, a big teddy bear and a magic wand for Christmas and I told him that Emily (her toy dog) wants a bone and a bouncy squeaky ball."

"I liked the slide it went bumpety, bump, bumpety, bump, bumpety, bump!"

On the way home while all the other children slept exhausted, Deanna sang Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at the top of her voice.

The trip cost £60,000 and was paid for through sponsorship from United Co-op.

Deanna will have further scans and X-rays on her eye in the New Year to check if the treatment has been a success and what effects there might be but Liz said: "So far the signs are encouraging."