A brave Workington family's fight continues as their poorly little girl battles leukaemia for the third time.

Emily Shutt, five, of Railbank Drive, was told the day before her birthday in February that the life-threatening illness had returned.

The family had began to relax 11 months after a bone marrow transplant from Emily's seven-year-old brother Alfie when the youngster, who has spent most of her life in and out of hospital, fell poorly in the week before her fifth birthday.

She began to complain of pain in her arms and legs, suffered a dramatic loss of energy and had problems with her eyes.

After bone marrow tests, her devastated family's worst fears were confirmed and they were told to prepare for the worst.

Since then the family have had to be stronger than ever as Emily began treatment on February 27 - her fifth birthday - but the inspirational little girl showed her determination by making it home for her party the next day.

The battling youngster is on the list for a medical trial at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital in January next year, but in order to qualify for the trial she must demonstrate that she can cope with 100 per cent of the treatment already available; she is currently at 75 per cent.

Mum Helen Johnson said Emily had just kept on going during the last six months of gruelling treatment, including daily oral chemo and trips to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary twice a month.

She said: "We just take every day as it comes, we want our little girl to be well.

"She's our inspiration, she's our all, both the children are.

"Alfie's had no choice unfortunately but he's never questioned it.

"They're gradually putting the treatment up bit by bit and we're praying that she does hit the 100 per cent and can tolerate it.

"The trial is more than what we had in February.

"We've been told that it's possibly in January but if that didn't happen, America would be the next step."

Helen added that the family have had a lot of support from family and friends, Victoria Infant School and the people of Workington.

Grandad Barrie Shutt hopes to start fund-raising soon to cover the costs of family life while coping with Emily's treatment and wants people willing to help to work hand in hand with him.

He said: "I'd parachute every day if I had to.

"I had a website, reputed to be one of the best in the world, on budgies.

"What I'm going to do is put presentations with that material on CDs and sell them for £10 each to people I know in that community.

"In an ideal world, Emily gets through the trial, is fighting fit and we've got all this money which we can use to help another sick little boy or girl."

If you are interested in fund-raising for Emily, email Barrie at barrieshutt@aol.com