Young carer Sarann Barnett has just come back from a week in Egypt - courtesy of children's TV programme Blue Peter.

The nine-year-old, of Holme Wood, Bradford, who is fascinated by all things Egyptian, looks after her blind mum Lesley.

And her caring work got her hand-picked by the BBC show to help launch its latest campaign - Disc Drive.

They want viewers to take their unwanted CDs, DVDs and computer games to Barnardo's shops to raise funds for the charity's work with children just like Saranne.

To say thank-you to her for taking part in the programme, presenter Andy Akinwolere and a film crew took her on a dream trip to Egypt.

Sarann said: "Not in my whole life did I think I would ever see the pyramids for real. I went in one, it was dark and a bit creepy. I liked seeing all the hieroglyphics."

Andy also took her to visit the Sphinx and helped barter for souvenirs in the local markets.

She said: "He was really good at doing deals. I brought back a little Tutankhamun's tomb with a mummy in it and I got a silver necklace with blue stones."

Before the Egyptian adventure, Andy spent 24 hours living Sarann's life giving her time off to go and play with friends.

"He made breakfast and tidied up the house, did the washing up and took mum out shopping," said Sarann, who gets support from Barnardo's and has her own key worker.

Single mum Lesley, 46, who lost her sight 14 years ago, said: "Sarann is so special. I couldn't do without her, she's my eyes."

Sarann, who goes to St John's Primary School, cooks meals, cleans the house, reads all the mail, takes her mum out shopping and does the banking with her.

"I try to give her a childhood but it's difficult. She's nine going on 19. The help we get from Barnardo's really sees us through," said Lesley.

"She can get a break and go and meet up with other young carers like her, be a child and talk to others who know what her life is like. She's also got a key worker who she can talk to if she's worried about anything. She doesn't always want to tell me things because she gets upset, having someone else to talk to makes it easier."

Blue Peter and Lesley managed to keep Egypt a secret from Sarann until it was time to go to the airport. She said: "I told her we were going down to London to see Strictly Come Dancing because one of the presenters was in it. She got a bit suspicious when I started asking her to get out her summer clothes and flip-flops."

Sarann's Egyptian adventure is still not over. Next week she and her mum have got VIP tickets to be among the first to see the new Tutankhamun Exhibition in London with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Barnardo's patron.

There are an estimated 175,000 young carers across the UK and Barnardo's works with about 2,000 of them - to find out how to help, log on to www.discdrive.org