The family of a five-year-old girl suffering from a life threatening tumour is celebrating after news that she is responding to treatment.

Bethany Heron, of Edge End Road, Buttershaw, Bradford, has a growth on her optic nerve which has left her blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other.

She has had half the tumour removed and has undergone chemotherapy. And results of a scan revealed the tumour has responded to treatment and has shrunk.

"We're over the moon - we're ecstatic," said mum Christina, 29.

"It's the best news we've had in ages and we slept so well last night that we overslept this morning.

"We're celebrating this weekend with friends and can't put into words how happy we are.

"Hopefully it will keep reducing and she'll have to keep having chemotherapy for another nine months to shrink it some more."

Bethany had a scan last week to assess her progress and her doctor was delighted with the results.

Dr Sue Picton, consultant paediatric oncologist, said Bethany's tumour was a low-grade astro cytoma malignant brain tumour.

"We are pleased with the results of the scan which show the tumour has shrunk but it is impossible to measure by how much," she said.

"It is a very good response and we would hope to get rid of it altogether but that's not certain.

"It is a life-threatening tumour because of its position."

When Bethany was born, Christina noticed she had 'wobbly' eyes.

But it was only after an optician became concerned that she had her first scan, which revealed the tumour last year.

Christina's twin sister Grace Gardener and husband Steve organised a sponsored bike ride to Morecambe in April to pay for a special computer and bicycle for Bethany.

The £2,000 computer is activated by speech and the four-wheeled bike costs about £475.

Christina added: "We are still collecting in the sponsorship money and the first thing we'll do is order her bike. It will be lovely to see her riding her bike with the other children."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.