SEVEN-year-old Abigail Pike is a bright little girl who loves to read – despite a rare condition that has made her partially blind.

Now a £1,670 appeal has been launched to buy the bubbly Poole youngster a special magnifier so she can enjoy her favourite books at home, just like any other child.

Her mum Melanie Anderson-Pike explained: “Abigail loves books by Jacqueline Wilson, but when she’s at home she can only use audio books because the print is just too small for her to read.

“She is a real bookworm and loves books but she can’t see the print, which is frustrating for her. Abigail would love to be able to go to the library and choose a book just like her friends but she can’t and she finds that frustrating.”

She added: “Statutory services only provide the most basic equipment in school and absolutely nothing else. This is an expensive piece of equipment and if funds aren’t raised Abigail won’t get it.”

The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is appealing to local people to help it provide the magnifier, called a Vision Impaired Reader.

Abigail, who lives with her mum and dad Peter in Upper Parkstone, was born with Bilateral Peter’s Anomaly. The condition, caused by a faulty gene, makes the middle part of the corneas hazy and white instead of clear.

The Longfleet Combined School pupil underwent 10 operations before she was three and a half, but they were largely unsuccessful for her right eye and left her with severely reduced vision in the left.

She has had problems with cataracts and glaucoma and both eyes are very sensitive to light. She uses a white stick and has to wear a hat and tinted glasses even when it is cloudy.

Melanie gave up a university course to be her daughter’s carer and money is tight – especially as Abigail needs close monitoring and has to attend Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. But she wants Abigail, who is learning braille, to enjoy the best quality of life possible.

“Giving her this equipment would mean she could be more independent with her schoolwork at home all on her own. It would change things for our family,” she said.

Any surplus money raised for Abigail will go towards supporting other disabled or terminally ill children in Dorset.

The charity, which receives no government funding, is trying to raise £7,136 to provide youngsters in the county with essential equipment.

No donated funds go towards administration. Contact the Newlife Community Fundraising Team on freephone 0800 988 4640.