FIVE-year-old Rebecca Calderbank is a real butterfly princess.

She carefully nurtured five caterpillars and then watched them grow into beautiful butterflies.

Her aunt, Maria Hilton, bought her a "butterfly kit" last Christmas, but she had to wait for the warmer weather before taking delivery of the unusual parcel.

The Beech House Prepatory School pupil was sent five caterpillars in a box, which acted as a temporary home, complete with food.

Rebecca put them on the window ledge and every night she covered them up to make sure they didn't get cold. She was able to watch one of the many miracles of nature as each of the caterpillars changed into a chrysalis . . . then into a beautiful butterfly.

Called Painted Ladies, the butterflies normally fly into the country from North Africa and live for about three weeks but one can lay as many as 500 eggs during its short lifetime.

Rebecca has now released the five winged wonders into Butterfly World at Moss Bank Park in Bolton, where they will be able to breed.

Her mum Helen Boardman, aged 36, who lives with her partner Stephen Calderbank, aged 46, in Stambourne Drive, Astley Bridge, said: "Rebecca was able to see the changes taking place every day.

"She was very excited and enjoyed it very much. She loves animals. We have five dogs, a rabbit and a parrot at home.

"Her aunt saw an advert in a children's magazine for the butterfly kit and we thought it was a wonderful idea.

"We had to wait until the summer and then we could send off a voucher for the kit.

"The box arrived in the post with five caterpillars inside. They doubled in size within a day or so and climbed to the top of the pot by the end of the week.

"After seven days, they had each turned into a chrysalis and then a week later, we had five butterflies.

"You see these creatures flying around your garden and you don't stop to think where they come from. To see it happen before your eyes was amazing.

"I couldn't believe how quickly it happened.

"We thought it was cruel to release them outdoors. We didn't know what would happen - so we took them to Butterfly World."

A spokesman for Butterfly World said: "The Painted Lady - full name Vanessa Cardui - is a migrant species from North Africa which comes to this country every spring. They can be seen on buddleia and other plants but they do not survive winters in the UK.

"As we have seen, they can be raised through the use of these kits but, as they are not a native species, it is really better not to release them into the wild.

"Rebecca did the right thing by bringing her butterflies to us. In our environment they will survive their full life expectancy of about three weeks and they could breed.

"We were very pleased to accept the donation of these Painted Ladies. The life cycle of the butterfly is a fascinating subject for children and they and their parents are welcome to come along to Butterfly World and learn more."