A FAMILY have reached their fund-raising target to help a five-year-old girl struck down by a muscle-wasting disease.

Taylor Rayson, of Allan Critchlow Way, Rishton, could be in a wheelchair by the time she is 13, a side effect of her spastic diplegia.

Her mother, Clare, has been desperately raising money since January to send Taylor to a centre in Bedfordshire, which could keep her walking.

Events have been held in the town to try and get the £3,000 needed, including a last push on Friday, May 26 at the Rishton Legion Club, Walmsley Street.

The event raised £621, which means the family have more than enough the help Taylor. Today Clare spoke of her delight at the news, and thanked everyone who had helped.

She said: "We are over the target now, and we are going on Monday. We had loads of people turn up to the last event, I couldn't believe it.

"When I first started out in January I was only looking to raise enough to go for two weeks. As it has come along we took her for an assessment there and they said she needed four weeks. All of a sudden I needed to raise £3,000.

"I never even dreamed I would get enough to go but we have more than we need. I would like to say a big thank you to all my friends and family."