BRAVE Deanna Radcliffe will spend the next four weeks at Christie Hospital in Manchester having radiotherapy on an inoperable tumour behind her eye.

The four-year-old, from Regent Street, Bacup, is the youngest person to be diagnosed with orbital rhabdomiosarcoma and treated at the hospital.

Her parents Paul and Elizabeth face a difficult four weeks while their daughter undergoes the vital treatment to remove the tumour from behind her eye.

She will have radiotherapy five days a week for four weeks and may be allowed home at weekends.

She had to have a full face mask made at the hospital in plaster of Paris and Elizabeth said she screamed when they covered her face in plaster.

They made a second mask which Deanna was allowed to take home so she could get used to how it felt and she has decorated it and made it into a Hallowe'en mask.

Elizabeth said: "She has just finished the last course of chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, and will begin the radiotherapy on Monday at Christie Hospital.

"She is a bit sick and tired at the moment because the chemotherapy knocks her for six.

"They have shrunk the tumour as much as they can but because of where it is it is inoperable and so she has to go through radiotherapy."

The tumour was diagnosed in May when Deanna's eye started to swell up. Since then she has had regular chemotherapy every three weeks.

Once the treatment is finished she will have to put drops in her eyes for life and the family have been warned she will probably have to have cataracts operated on in five or 10 years.

Her pituitary gland may be affected and so she may have to take growth hormones.

She has been unable to attend Britannia Primary School very often. Her eight-year-old sister Danielle is also a pupil there.

Elizabeth said: "Danielle has been brilliant. We have tried to keep things as normal as possible for her despite what has been happening to Deanna and although she couldn't go out on Hallowe'en she watched her dad take her sister out trick or treating.

"It is difficult for an eight-year-old to comprehend what is happening but we have tried to explain it as best we can.

"Paul's mum and dad have been really supportive and helped look after Danielle."

The youngest child to have been operated on at the Christie Hospital with a similar tumour was aged six. She is now 14 and Deanna's family have been told doctors are pleased with her progress.

Family friend Kath James has co-ordinated fund-raising events which have raised nearly £10,000 to help pay for Deanna to swim with dolphins in Florida. The whole family to go on a trip of a lifetime to Walt Disney World where Deanna will meet her favourite character Winnie the Pooh.

Any money left over will be placed in trust for Deanna when she gets older.