Heart swap girl Sally Slater could be home from hospital in about eight weeks, it was revealed today.

She is recovering in the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, where she will remain until she returns home to Kirby Malham, near Skipton.

Sally, six, underwent a heart transplant a week ago after a last-minute appeal through the press for a donor.

She became critically ill after a virus attacked muscles in her heart and her only chance of survival was a heart swap.

Her grandfather, John Rycroft, of Kirby Malham, said today: "There is still a long haul before we can say all is well, but she is definitely going in the right direction."

He said Sally was still sedated but doctors were slowly bringing her round.

"She will remain at Newcastle until she is fit enough to come home - that could be another six or eight weeks," he added.

Sally's parents - John, 36, a financial consultant and Bridget, 36, a college lecturer at Craven College in Skipton - are keeping a bedside vigil.

Sally has two younger brothers.

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