AN 18-month-old girl is to undergo vital heart surgery that will save her life.

Charley Holden suffers from a heart defect called Tritology of Fallot and has already undergone two minor operations in an attempt to cure her of the condition, which has left her with a hole in her heart and a narrow vein.

Her parents, Dean and Dawn, of Croft Street, Great Harwood, are now preparing for their daughter to have two operations - the most serious of which is open-heart surgery, which should fix the hole in her heart.

She will also under go an operation known as a shunt, which should open up the narrow vein and allow the blood to circulate more freely around her heart.

The family are still waiting for a date but have been told it will be in the next few months.

But despite regular visits to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, and with two exploratory operations under her belt, Charley seems just like any other, normal, happy child.

Dean said: "The doctors have told us that if she does not have this operation she will not survive childhood.

"It was a massive blow when we discovered the condition she had, which stops her heart from functioning properly.

"We first discovered the condition when we became worried that she was breathless after walking across our living room and her lips turned blue. We took her to the doctors and it went from there.

"We are now going to Alder Hey on a regular basis and the whole thing is a complete shock to us. It is something we are having to come to terms with and hopefully everything will be OK." The couple, assisted by the landlady of their local pub, the Merry England, have now launched a fund-raising campaign to help Alder Hey, where Charley will under-go the seven hour open-heart operation.

Money will also be passed to Alder Hey's Ronald McDonald house, where parents of sick children stay.

A Mr and Mrs night held at the pub recently raised more than £400, with plans in place for a big fun day when the weather improves.

Talking as Charley played in front of her, oblivious of what lies ahead, Dawn added: "Everyone around us has been great, supporting us and helping us. We have lived here for a long time and a lot of people know us and they have all wanted to help.

"It is so great watching Charley laughing and playing. She seems so happy and unaware of what is going on. We are just hoping for the best."