Brave Hayley Finch was given a lift when the friend for whom she is to be bridesmaid flew specially to Britain to see her in hospital where she is recovering from major surgery.

The 12-year-old brittle bone disease sufferer had an operation on Friday to insert a steel rod into one of her legs to help keep them straight.

The Telegraph & Argus reported earlier this month how Hayley - who has suffered more than 200 fractures - had been rushed into hospital after breaking her leg in a fall at school, forcing her to miss her first Bradford City home game in three seasons.

And when bride-to-be Anne Monaghan, who lives in Galway, Ireland, heard about the Shipley youngster's plight she jetted across the Irish Sea to visit her at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Hayley and her family became friends with Anne after meeting her and her niece - who also had brittle bone disease - in Sheffield last year.

Tragically, Anne's 13-month-old niece died last summer from a chest infection but Anne has stayed in touch with the family and has asked Hayley to be a bridesmaid at her wedding in December.

Anne, pictured with Hayley at the hospital, said: "I just had to come when I found out she was having to spend all this time in hospital. I knew it was Hayley's dream to be a bridesmaid and although she's already done it for someone else, I thought it would be nice to ask her to be one of mine as well.

"Hayley never complains about things, does so much with her life despite everything and is a real example to everyone. If my niece had survived I couldn't have wished for her to turn out like anyone other than Hayley.''

Hayley's mum Carol said: "Her face just lit up when she saw Anne - she was thrilled to bits. It's just so nice that she came all that way to visit Hayley."