A PLUCKY Leyland teenager who suffers from leukaemia is back at school for the first time since a life-saving bone marrow transplant last September.

But the long-awaited day was blighted by heartless thieves who sneaked into her back garden in Headley Road and made off with her beloved bike.

Lianne Neilson, aged 13, has been battling against full-blown adult leukaemia for eighteen months, she has fought through intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hair and weight loss.

The bike-mad teenager has been in and out of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital since the transplant, and only went home on Tuesday after a bad bout of shingles.

Lianne was raring to ride her British Eagle bike, but when she opened the back door, she found the cycle had been stolen.

"I was so angry," she said. "At first I thought my dad had played a joke but when I realised it had been pinched, I was really upset."

Dad Duncan said: "It's a sick thing to do. People have no idea what Lianne's been through."

But pupils at St Mary's High have rallied round to console their brave buddy and welcome her back to class. Lianne said: "My friends have been brilliant. I only go to school for half a day and can't wait until I'm well enough to return full-time."

And the family is off to Florida for a fortnight in September as a special treat for Lianne.

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