LITTLE Beth Morris is enjoying a new-found freedom after coming out of isolation following a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

And one of the first things the youngster did was to ride her pony, Molly.

Beth, who had been fighting leukaemia since she was 17 months old, has surprised doctors with the speed of her recovery following a bone marrow transplant in April at Manchester Children's Hospital.

She was offered the lifeline by a German donor and has spent the last six months in virtual isolation, unable to play with her friends and seeing only her closest family to avoid infection.

Now she is busy catching up on lost time with a long list of "must-dos" -- including just rolling about in the mud outside her home in Hollow Meadow, Ringley, a childhood pleasure her illness has so far denied her.

Grateful Beth's said: "I want everyone who reads the paper to know that I thank them a lot. They don't have to worry about me anymore because I'm feeling a lot better now. But you must keep on giving blood and bone marrow because people like me need it."

Her mother Janet said: "She's been wanting to say that for such a long time because she knows how worried everyone has been about her."

Beth is now learning to swim and she is looking forward to a family holiday in Florida next year so that she can fulfil her dream of swimming with dolphins.

Janet said: "Six months ago we would never have believed it. Beth is doing extremely well and is so strong now. It hasn't been plain sailing and she will have to go back to hospital for check ups for the rest of her life. But now we are able to think of the future."

Beth's grandfather used to bring the Welsh pony Molly -- Beth's highly-cherished fifth birthday present -- to the front window of her home during her incubation.

Janet said: "She would plead to see Molly and her grandfather would bring her down so that she could look at her through the window."

The six-year-old touched the hearts of Bolton people with her selfless spirit as she continued to fight Lymphoblastic Leukaemia while campaigning for two charities, the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and the National Blood Service.

She is now looking forward to returning to school on a part-time basis, at St Saviour's Primary, Ringley."