A 21-YEAR-OLD woman with Down's Syndrome got the best birthday present of her life when she met her Blackburn Rovers heroes.

Katie Mullen, whose birthday was on New Year's Day, was introduced to the stars at their training ground in the Ribble Valley.

She was driven there with her family in a Mercedes car provided by the club, given flowers and allowed to hang out with the players in the canteen of the Brockhall training complex.

Katie, of Banbury Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, met the stars after her family wrote a letter to the Premiership club asking for the special birthday treat.

They explained that due to Katie's condition she would be unable to go out to clubs on her birthday like other girls her age.

And she would be unlikely to fulfil her other wish of sitting in a limousine because that was when most people booked them.

They told Rovers that Katie was a life-long fan and season ticket holder.

Once Rovers chiefs received the letter they were only too happy to oblige and arranged the special day before they played Middlesbrough on her birthday. They even said they would provide the car to ferry them to and from the ground.

Katie's mum Maureen, 50, said: "We wanted it to be a surprise so we didn't tell her till the morning.

"When she found out she rushed into her bedroom to get her Rovers top.

"Rovers were brilliant and said they would provide a car and drove us all in this big Mercedes. All she did was smile, in fact she didn't stop smiling, she was grinning from ear-to-ear all day.

"The only thing she said was that they were all very cute."

On her birthday Katie watched the match before a party for the family.

Rovers star David Thompson said that when the players heard of the letter they were only too happy to help.

"We were told that she would couldn't celebrate her birthday like other girls and as she is a big Rovers fan and knows about all the players this would be a great day.

"We were all made up to have them come down, especially for her birthday, and we just hope that today was really enjoyable for her."

Katie's dad Sean, 56, said: "We just want to say thank-you to all of the players and the staff who have been wonderful and have gone out of their way to make her day memorable."

Brendan, Katie's 29-year-old brother, said: "We're all made up to come down, especially Katie, who is a huge fan.

"Katie was a mascot a few years ago at an FA Cup match against West Ham, but she always wanted to meet the team properly."