The plight of a four-year-old girl has captured the hearts of the nation with donations reaching £4,500.

Hundreds of cards, gifts and donations have been flooding in from well wishers across the country hoping to give Danielle Skilbeck a better life.

Danielle has had both her legs amputated below the knee after she contracted the meningococcal septicaemia strand of meningitis a month ago.

Yesterday her mum, Lindsay Pollard, received the devastating news that Danielle will now lose all her fingers and possibly her knee caps.

The new development will mean that Danielle, of Hollin Gate, Otley, may not be able to take up her place at Ashfield Primary School, due to the specialist care she will now require.

The youngster, who is currently recovering in St James' Hospital, in Leeds, is due to under go a skin graft next week and will hopefully be discharged before Christmas.

Lindsay said: "The news that she will lose her fingers is heartbreaking. It is such a massive blow. It is one step forward, two steps back.

"I don't think she will be accepted in to Ashfield now, I just don't know what is going to happen.

"I can't drive and I'm pregnant. I don't know how I will be able to get her somewhere else.

"Everything will change now, I had hope she could have a wheelchair, but I don't think she will be able to push herself without fingers.

"She has been painting in hospital this week, they tied a brush to her bandages and she loved it, it's so awful that she will never get to do these things again."

A national newspaper last week also took up the Wharfedale Observer's appeal to raise money for Danielle.

Within three days of the bank account been opened for her, donations had amounted to more than £4,500 and new pledges are being received daily.

An Otley furnishers has offered to carpet the family's new home after reading about Danielle's struggle in the Wharfedale Observer.

A spokesman for the company, which wishes to remain anonymous, said: "I said that I would help them out with carpets.

"I read the article in the Wharfedale so I knew about Danielle. The little girl had terrible luck. It is very unfortunate and I will be doing all I can for her."

Lindsay added: "The support from the whole country has been amazing. It is unbelievable. I can't believe all these people are sending her gifts, it is really touching.

"People have been putting £300 at a time into an account for her. We will be using the money to buy things that she will now need.

"Teddy bears, cards and other gifts have been sent to her at the hospital from Surrey, Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool.

"Danielle thinks it's Christmas.

"I really need to learn to drive so I can take her places and I need a double buggy so I can push both Danielle and her 18-month-old sister Tia at the same time."

A seven-year-old girl from Surrey, who has suffered identical problems to Danielle after catching meningitis, has requested to come and see her.

Charlie lost her fingertips and both the bottom of her legs after catching the meningitis bug.

The youngster hopes to meet Danielle when she is better, but doctors at the hospital have postponed her visit for the present because Danielle will be losing all her fingers.

They fear that if Danielle sees Charlie then she may think that she will look like her, when she now faces more surgery to remove her fingers.

There will be a fundraising day on Sunday, September 15, in Otley market square, between 12pm to 4pm, where people can pay for rides on Harley-Davidson motorbikes .

Anyone wishing to help can make donations to Danielle's Trust Fund at Halifax Bank, sort code 11-05-85 account number 00358370.

l Heather's call to Danielle - page 3