Little Laura Hart has returned home after undergoing major surgery to remove three tumours from her lungs.

The desperately-ill toddler, who is battling rare cancer Wilm's Tumour, spent her third birthday in hospital following the operation.

Her dad Allen Hart said: "She is sore because she has had a major operation but she is doing okay and she is up and about."

Allen and his wife, Joanne, will find out next week the outcome of the operation when they return to St James' hospital in Leeds to see Laura's consultant.

The Guiseley toddler celebrated her birthday with a party a few days before she underwent surgery.

"Lots of people turned up and she really enjoyed it," said Allen, 32. "She did not want it to end. She wasn't too bad going back into hospital because she had had the party and we had tried to raise her spirits.

"On the day of her birthday we took a cake (into hospital) but she wasn't really up for anything."

Laura has been fighting the rare form of cancer, which affects about 70 children a year in the UK, for 18 months.

Since her diagnosis she has undergone a relentless string of procedures.

Allen, who gave up his job as a gas engineer to spend more time with his daughter, is now planning an epic journey from Leeds to Madrid by quad bike to boost funds for the charity Candlelighters, which has helped Laura.

Last year Allen and pal Baildon businessman Tim Clark raised more than £5,000 for the charity, with a 1,000 miles quad bike run from John O' Groats to Land End.

Anyone who would like to support the quad expedition can e-mail kidscancer@quadsuk.net or visit www.justgiving.com/quadsuk