A BABY girl who weighed only 1lb 8oz at birth and wore dolls' clothes during her first weeks is being brought 4,000 miles to settle in the North-East.

Dee-Ann Short will arrive on Thursday, just in time to celebrate her first birthday with her grandparents in Stainton Grove, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Her parents, Kerry and Toby Short, have decided to leave South Africa and live with her and their four-year-old son Damon in the Barnard Castle area.

Kerry's mother, Patsy Prewitt, said: "I am thrilled that they are coming to live here as I will be able to see a lot of my grandchildren."

Dee-Ann was so tiny when born that even clothes for premature babies were too big for her, so Mrs Prewitt bought dolls' clothes from Pauline Connelly's toy shop in Barnard Castle and posted them to South Africa.

Mrs Prewitt said: "I will take Dee-Ann to the toy shop and let Miss Connelly see how well she has grown since she had to wear the dolls' clothes.

"We had fears at first that she might not survive, but she is now a perfectly normal child who is around the average size and weight for a one-year-old."

Ms Short was brought up in Barnard Castle, but emigrated to South Africa some years ago.

She and her husband have decided their children can have a better future in Britain.

The family are due to arrive at Durham-Tees Valley Airport from Heathrow at 8am on Thursday.

Dee-Ann's first birthday is next Tuesday.