Bride-to-be Debbie Metcalfe was so touched by a little girl's dream of being a bridesmaid that she has offered her a special place at her wedding.

Nursery nurse Debbie and her fiance Andy Stillings already plan to have seven bridesmaids at their wedding on July 29 next year.

But they were so moved when they read Ellie McDonald's story in the Telegraph & Argus that they have invited her to help them celebrate their marriage at St Luke's Church, Harrogate Road, Bradford.

The T&A revealed on Saturday that four-year-old Ellie, who has had more than 30 operations, was living on borrowed time because doctors warned she would not live beyond her third birthday.

She is believed to be only the 14th person in the world with a rare chromosome abnormality called Chromosome 7 Deletion which has left her with multiple health problems including damage to her kidneys, heart, spine, eyes and immune system.

Her mum Louise could think of no better way to repay her courage than giving her a chance to walk up the aisle as a bridesmaid.

Debbie, 27, a nursery nurse for children with special needs at Lister Lane School in Bradford said: "I work with special needs children so anything like this appeals to me. It was quite a sad story."

Debbie, engaged to Royal Mail salesman Andy for three-and-a-half years, said they were delighted Ellie's parents chose them out of seven couples who came forward, even though their wedding is ten months away.

Louise, 27, of Leafield Grove, Eccleshill, said Ellie could not attend weddings in the next few weeks because she would be out of action after having an operation to remove a cyst next week.

She said: "I got on really well with Deborah when I spoke to her and the church where they are getting married is so close to our family and friends that if they want to go along and see Ellie in her dress they can do."

Ellie and the seven other bridesmaids will wear blue and ivory dresses which are being made by Debbie's mum Christine Metcalfe.

Although Ellie will not be the youngest bridesmaid, she will be the smallest because she is only about the size of a two-year-old.

Debbie, of Silwood Drive, and Andy, 29, of Portsmouth Avenue, Bradford, both grew up in the city but first spoke after recognising each other on holiday in Corfu five years ago.

Andy proposed in Lingards nightclub in Bradford.

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