IT was a day little Charlotte Taylor thought she would never see.

At the tender age of two she was diagnosed with cancer. She thought she was going to die.

Three years later she was given a bone marrow transplant from her little brother, Ryan.

It was a perfect match and saved her life.

Now, five years on, doctors have given the ten-year-old the final all-clear from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

To celebrate the news she never imagined hearing, mum Lisa organised a surprise party for Charlotte and Ryan, 8, at British American Tobacco's social club in Totton, where she plays darts.

And a surprise it was for the brother and sister, who were expecting just a meal out on Sunday night.

Instead they were met by 150 school pals, relatives and friends at the social club in Ringwood Road.

Charlotte told The Daily Echo: "I walked in and everyone let off their party poppers. It was amazing. I felt really cheerful and happy and danced to every song."

Charlotte, a pupil at Abbotswood Junior School in Totton, already had a speech ready - albeit for the smaller audience she was expecting at the restaurant.

Bringing tears to the eyes of many present, the plucky ten-year-old gave her brother a Saint Christopher engraved with the words, "Thanks to my brother. Ryan you're one in a million."

Mum Lisa, of Sunset Road, Totton, said: "I never imagined this day would come. When Charlotte was diagnosed with cancer I thought she was going to die. Our only hope was a perfect bone marrow match.

"When Charlotte had a relapse five years ago she had the bone marrow transplant and because there has been no relapse since, she is over the cancer. That is a huge relief.

"Both my children have been towers of strength. When I have had days of feeling down they have kept me going."

Some of the doctors and nurses from Southampton General Hospital's Piam Brown ward who helped care for Charlotte were at the party.

The icing on the cake for Charlotte was a bouquet and silver necklace from her boyfriend, nine-year-old Joe Webb.

Charlotte, who has endured more than 100 operations in her short life, must still undergo physiotherapy three times a day to help strengthen her thinning bones, caused by all her treatment.

A raffle at the surprise party raised £200 for the charity Leukaemia Busters.