DESPITE the fact that little Kyra-Leigh Diffey is stuck in hospital fighting a devastating cancer battle she will still get to experience the magic of Christmas - thanks to some very generous family and friends.

In March she was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma – an aggressive form of cancer. She was just 11-months-old.

Since then Kyra and single mum Jai have been living in hospital so she can get the treatment she needs to save her life.

With 16 months of treatment left to go Kyra and Jai still have a long road ahead which is why a group of family and friends from their home town of Swanage launched a fundraising appeal to bring the magic of Christmas to Kyra’s hospital bed.

The target was originally £500 - but thanks to the generosity of the local community the campaign has raised nearly £1,500.

Speaking to the Echo mum Jai said: "I honestly can't believe how much they have raised for us. It's just so lovely but I am also so overwhelmed about it as well.

"I don't really know how to say thank you to everyone who has done this for us.

"It really makes you think and realise who your friends are."

Unfortunately Kyra, who is staying at the Piam Brown oncology ward at Southampton Hospital, is still quite poorly as a result of the chemotherapy she has been given to try and save her life.

She was due to have open heart surgery to fix a hole in her heart yesterday which means she will still be asleep and recovering on Christmas Day.

"We have decided that we're going to give her Christmas Eve and Christmas Day again once she wakes up and is feeling a bit better," added Jai, 24.

"The wonderful thing about Kyra is that to look at her you would never know how poorly she is. She always manages to keep smiling.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who has donated to help give Kyra and I a wonderful Christmas. It's something that I will make sure she always remembers.”