Madison Allan’s ‘sheer determination to live’ was celebrated as the youngster who has battled cancer for most of her life turned six.

Relatives said Madison showed her typical courage and cheerfulness as she played with friends and family at the Greifswald City Hospital, Germany.

And now East Lancashire people are being urged to ‘dig deep’ again to help fund the next phases of the Lower Darwen girl’s specialist treatment in Germany.

The trial drug Madison is receiving, which is not available in the UK, has so far cost £50,000.

It has been paid for by donations to The Madison Allan Appeal, but another £200,000 is needed to continue the treatment over 18 months.

Family friend and Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita in the soap, said: “It’s great that she’s here to celebrate her birthday. She’s been very, very brave and I can’t believe how incredibly well she’s fought this disease.

“It really is life-saving treatment she’s having in Germany and it’s essential that people continue to dig deep, because without the donations, Madison wouldn’t be able to have the quality of life she is having now.

“We’d all like to see her celebrating her birthday next year too.”

Madison, from Lower Darwen, has fought cancer since she was 10 months old.

A ‘spaghetti-like tumour’ is now wrapped around her vital organs and has spread to her bones and liver.

However her family said the treatment in Germany over the past five weeks had transformed her quality of life.

Yesterday she was well enough to celebrate her birthday with family, nurses and friends she has made in the hospital. They gave her a special cake, she made ice creams with her pals and her uncle Simon Foster said Madison was in the ‘best of moods’.

Mr Foster said the family were now praying the tumour could be stopped.

He said: "When I took Madison to the airport at the beginning of her trip to Germany, I was terrified that I would never see her again as she was extremely ill.

“But, even after the bad news that the cancer has spread, I have not seen her looking as well in a long time.

“I have no doubt that this treatment is working. I speak to my sister and Madison on Skype and at first Madison wasn’t interested in talking, but now I can see her playing and joking about.” Simon paid tribute to his niece: “Madison has always been a special little girl, full of life and eager to entertain. Over the years she has continued to amaze me with her sheer determination to live, and in the way she wants to.

“Five minutes with Madison when she is poorly will break a person’s heart, but five minutes with Madison when she is well will show a perspective on life few people will otherwise be able to appreciate.”

The family will know in four weeks whether she will be well enough to undergo a second phase of treatment.

This will cost £50,000. Already £12,000 towards this has been brought in through fundraising.

It is thought the final phrase, which could see treatment in a radiotherapy chamber followed by an operation if the tumour has shrunk and a course of anti-bodies in America, could be £150,000.

Despite some doctors in England giving her a bleak prognosis, Madison’s family refuse to give up hope.

Simon said: “We are hoping Madison is well enough for this to happen, with the hope that it will make her better in the end.

"But we can’t wait now. We do need to have the money in place.”