JUST ten months ago, Kerianne Sparkes was delighted when she won her local newspaper's bonny bairns competition.

The five-year-old's parents, Stephen and Anne, of South Shields, South Tyneside, received the good news in a letter as they returned from a family holiday in Turkey.

Their happiness was shortlived as the next month, after a short illness, Kerianne was diagnosed as having a tumour on her spine.

Yesterday, the couple were trying to come to terms with the death of their daughter.

Mr Sparkes, 37, said: "Kerianne had only just started primary school when she was diagnosed.

"We were told that the tumour in her spine was very fast growing. She had a battery of treatment and tests but she never complained."

Eventually the tumour spread to Kerianne's whole spine and into her brain. She died at the weekend with her parents at her hospital bedside.

Mrs Sparkes, 36, said: "Kerianne was so full of spirit and life. Stephen and I are no longer afraid of death because we know that one day we will join her."