Family and friends of a brave toddler who battled leukaemia gathered to welcome her back to Cumbria – a year to the day after she had life-saving transplant surgery.

Three-year-old Elsie Kumar was welcomed back to the county with a special homecoming party arranged at Wheyrigg Hall Hotel, near Wigton.

One year ago the youngster had a bone marrow transplant and was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when she was just 20 months old.

Her mum, Helen Kumar, now lives in London but grew up in the Wigton area and campaigned heavily for people in her home county to join the bone marrow donor register.

Elsie’s struggles captured the hearts of thousands of people across the country who tried to do their bit by signing up to transplant registers.

“She has done really well. This is her first time away from home as she was isolated and couldn’t see anybody for the first seven or eight months,” said Helen.

“This is my hometown and my family and friends have supported us throughout this whole period and we wanted to come home and share this moment with everyone.”

Despite the problems Elsie has had through her short life things are finally started to look brighter.

“The first year is where there’s the biggest chance of a relapse,” Helen added.

“So now we are at that stage where we can relax a little more and enjoy things. She’s just had her one year blood tests and we’ve had some really encouraging results.”

When initially Elsie struggled to find a donor Helen, her husband Arun and the rest of the family, launched a campaign – A Match for Elsie.

In just four days following national publicity 3,000 people joined a bone marrow donor register. In total 10,000 extra people signed up.

Elsie’s struggles captured the hearts of thousands across the country and in Cumbria children from Kingmoor Juniors in Carlisle even recorded a song which was used on the campaign video.

Members of the school choir were reunited on Saturday to perform the song – When You Believe – for the first time in front of Elsie and her family.

The choir was led by music teacher Alison Bedford who was close friends with Helen throughout her school years in north Cumbria.