THE parents of a four-year-old chronic allergy victim are hoping she will be saved from a life of constant pain by a German specialist.

Brianie Copeland's plight has hit the headlines as her family try to raise the cash to send her to a British allergy clinic.

But after a German TV article told how Brianie spends most of her time wrapped in bandages, and is covered in blisters as a result of being allergic to almost everything, her dad Brian Copeland took a phone call from the German expert.

Mr Copeland, of Edmondsley, near Chester-le-Street, is awaiting a further call from the allergy specialist. In the meantime, he is still hoping to raise cash for £100-an-hour consultations at Airedale Allergy Centre in North Yorskhire.

Yesterday he explained how the phone call from Germany had given the family a glimmer of hope after past disappointments.

At one stage, the family had pinned their hopes on a meeting with a consultant at Great Ormond Street children's hospital in London, but had been disappointed when no progress was made with his daughter's treatment, he said.

"No one has ever said they could cure her, but then again no-one has ever said she couldn't be cured. This man from Germany called and said he had been treating allergy victims for ten years using entirely natural products.

"He even said he would fly over to help. I don't even know if he's a proper doctor at this stage, and am waiting for him to call again.

"We'll try anything which will help our daughter lead a normal life," he added.

The family have been told there are no more treatments available on the NHS at their local Dryburn Hospital in Durham.

Brianie suffers allergic reactions to foods including dairy products and bread, cleaing agents, dust, strong light, heat, man-made fibres and grass. Despite all that brave Brianie still manages to attend her local Edmondsley primary school.

Her plight has also touched the heart of former German rock star Nena, real name Gabriela Kerner, who had a massive hit in 1984 with 99 Red Balloons.

Her daughter suffered the same combination of allergies, and she has spoken on the phone to Brianie and the doctors treating her.