THE young girl whose triumph over leukaemia has been one of the most heart-warming stories of the year has suffered a set-back.

Nine-year-old Chelsea Noone, of Alma Street, Radcliffe, had been hoping to return to school following months of isolation.

In fact, she was all set to join her friends at Gorsefield CP School this week but unfortunately the reunion has been postponed because she has shingles.

Her father, Allan, said: "She was really looking forward to going back but on Saturday started to feel ill."

Worried by the latest development, Allan and wife Trish took Chelsea to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital on Sunday where they were told she had shingles. "She has to stay in hospital for a few days, just to be on the safe side, and was understandably very upset when she realised she couldn't go back to to school this week as planned," said Mr Noone.

Since her life-saving bone marrow transplant in May, Chelsea has had to remain in isolation at home because she was vulnerable to infection.

It was back in 1995 that doctors first informed her devastated parents that their daughter had cancer.

Intensive chemotherapy beat it into remission by 1997 but last September it returned.

The people of Radcliffe rallied round and numerous clinics were held by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust designed to find a potential donor for Chelsea and other sufferers.

Although disappointed that her return to school has had to be postponed, Mr and Mrs Noone are just glad it was not due to anything more serious.

"The transplant has been a complete success so far and, hopefully, Chelsea will soon be well enough to return to school," said Mr Noone.

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