THE parents of a disabled youngster were bowled over when they received an invitation for a special Christmas treat for their daughter.

Staff at Accrington's Superbowl were so moved when they read about eight-year-old Shannon Ryan and her parents that they invited the family and several cousins to a free game on Christmas Eve.

The youngster was born with Downs Syndrome and was operated on when she was just three-months-old to repair three holes in her heart.

But more was to come when Shannon was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis three years ago -- another blow for her parents who had lost their first child, Connor, to cot death in 1993.

Earlier this month Shannon's parents Dave, 41, and Mandy, 39, of Margaret Street, Oswaldtwistle, took delivery of a special fibre optic light unit to make her bedroom relaxing, delivered at cost price thanks to the generosity of Nelson-based company Futuristic Fibre Optics.

It was after reading about the youngster that Superbowl sales and marketing manager Sarah Hall decided to put on a special treat for her.

"We are trying to work with the community -- we don't just want to take people's money and run. When we read about Shannon who is a local girl who has had a bad time we thought we would give her a little Christmas Eve treat," she said

For the party of 11 children and nine adults the event was the perfect way to begin the festive season.

Dave said: "It's a lovely way to start Christmas. It's just very thoughtful to give something back because no-one has ever rung us with anything like this before.

"It's nice that all the nephews and nieces were there. They all love her to bits."

Mum Mandy said: "I think it's really nice of them to set it up for us. Big companies like this don't really have to and it's just a nice treat before Christmas."