A NORTH-EAST youngster is to get a pioneering operation to rebuild her swollen face.

An appeal launched by the family of five-year-old Hope Elliott, of Sunderland, has reached its £35,000 target in a matter of weeks.

Hope, who goes to Oxclose Primary School, Washington, has Cystic Lymphovenous Malformation - a build up of cysts on her face and throat that restricts her breathing and strangulates her facial nerves.

Renowned reconstructive surgeon Professor Ian Jackson, who featured in the documentary The Visit rebuilding a boy's face, will carry out the operations that will give Hope a better quality of life.

Following an appeal from her parents, Bernadette and Peter, donations came from far and wide, including pop bands S Club 7, B*Witched, and Ronan Keating, of Boyzone.

Mrs Elliott said: "I am absolutely ecstatic to say the least. I can't believe it."

Hope had faced a four-year wait to have the operation performed in Newcastle.