ANXIOUS parents of Aimee Read are keeping a close on her as she begins to experience the side-effects of her bone marrow transplant.

Weeks of radiotherapy and treatment have taken their toll on the five-year-old who has captured the hearts of thousands across Bury.

Aimee's mother Wendy, from Moorcroft, Edenfield, said: "Aimee is having trouble walking and has been feeling poorly."

Now her parents believe Aimee may be suffering from sleeping sickness - another side-effect from the treatment.

"I know that people start sleeping a lot after having this treatment," said Wendy. "We are just keeping an eye on her and making sure she eats and drinks."

Aimee underwent the transplant earlier this year. Doctors at Pendlebury Children's Hospital were so amazed at her progress that she was released from hospital two weeks earlier than expected.

She is still in semi-isolation to protect her from infection.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.