A Leicestershire girl has taken a big step on the road to recovery by returning to school.

For more than a year six-year-old Catherine Sharpe has been taught at home in Lutterworth by her mother.

Her weak immune system meant she had to stay away from other children in case of infection.

Now a bone marrow transplant means she has finally be able to see to her friends again.

It has been a rough old ride

David Sharpe

Catherine had the transplant eight months ago and spent much of the summer at Leicester Royal Infirmary where she could only be visited by family and close friends.

She was looking forward to taking up her studies again.

Catherine said: "I haven't been there for a long time and going somewhere you haven't been for a long time is very exciting."

Her parents, David and Janette, paid tribute to her bravery during the prolonged medical treatment.

David said: "She has done remarkably well, fantastic. We are over the moon with her.

"What can we say? She has done far better than expected but it has been a rough old ride."

The family suffered extra anxiety when Catherine's operation was delayed by a funding shortfall at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Catherine's health worries are not over as her rare blood disorder, fanconi anaemia, will leave her susceptible to cancer.