LITTLE Miss Courage, five-year-old Hayley Isherwood, has lost her fight against a rare form of cancer.

And her family's grief at the tragic loss of their brave little girl at her home in Clitheroe is being shared with everyone who came into contact with her.

Hayley had fought her battle with determination and courage since cancer was diagnosed at the beginning of 1993.

Her battling spirit won the hearts of a town which nicknamed her Little Miss Courage.

She died peacefully at home in Curzon Street, with parents Michael and Wendy by her side.

Much of Hayley's short life had been overshadowed by her illness, but everyone who knew her will remember a bright, happy little girl who wasn't going to let her frequent hospital visits and painful treatments get in the way of having fun.

She had been given the all-clear a number of times after treatment at Pendlebury Children's Hospital for a brain tumour but, eventually, doctors admitted there was nothing else they could do for Hayley. She had started school at St Michael and St John's, although she only went to class when she felt well enough, and had been with classmates just before she was taken ill again.

Mum Wendy said: "We knew there was nothing else the doctors could do, but it all happened very quickly in the end.

"Everyone has been so generous and loving towards Hayley all the time she has been ill and I know she is going to leave a very big hole in the lives of a lot of people."

Hayley's funeral will be held on Tuesday at St Michael and St John's Church in Clitheroe and the family have asked for donations rather than flowers to either the SuperScan Appeal or Cancer Research.

Many of Hayley's classmates will be at the service and they are planning to decorate the church with bows and pictures for their friend.

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