WHEN Alice Henry underwent a pioneering operation to end years of crippling pain she found herself isolated - with only a laptop linking her to the outside world.

The result of that operation, which involved 'cleaning' her bone marrow to rid her of juvenile arthritis, has meant the Padiham 12-year-old can now begin to enjoy a pain-free childhood.

To say thanks for what her mother today described as a 'miracle', friends and family of the St Hilda's High School pupil have raised hundreds of pounds to buy a laptop for Newcastle General Hospital, where the treatment was carried out.

Alice was only the fourth child in the world to undergo the surgery, which left her immune system weak for several weeks, resulting in her being locked away from the world. It was only thanks to her mother bringing her work laptop with her that Alice was able to keep in contact with pals.

Her mum, Michele Baldwin, a director at Accrington's Springhill Care Group, said they hit upon the idea when they realised other children at the hospital were not so fortunate.

Staff from Springhill held an 80s night and raised £478, with bosses meeting the rest of the costs. And £566 was donated by St Theodore's Boy's School, St Hilda's PTA and the Ex-Clarets Committee.

The presentation was made to Gerald Farnell, from the hospital's Bubble Foundation, at Springhill's base in Accrington.