SCHOOLGIRL Maya Dyer may not have survived to see her sixth birthday had it not been for the life-saving efforts of surgeons.

Born with a hole in her heart, she has undergone three operations which have led to her being given a "clean bill of health".

Now, to say thank you to the highly skilled team which has given her a bright future, her mum, Lucinda, is hosting a grand fundraising evening in Tiverton.

Maya is now an "energetic and happy bundle of fun" who attends Wilcombe School in Tiverton.

Mrs Dyer, 25, is a special needs teacher in Tiverton, her husband, Lee, 36, is a paramedic, who lives at Marshall Close, Tiverton, and they have a younger daughter Isla, aged just three weeks.

They have been planning the event since December as a way of raising money for the intensive care and cardiac units at Bristol Children's Hospital where Maya was treated.

She said: "Maya underwent three life-saving operations at the hospital, the first when she was just 11 months old. She is really well now having gone from a sedate little child into a little terror who is really off the wall sometimes. It is wonderful.

"She has been given a clean bill of health and is so full of fun and we wanted to say a big thank you to all the staff who helped so much."

Maya's school and her friends have joined in the fundraising and are holding a non-uniform day, sharing what they raise with their own charity, WaterAid.

Mrs Dyer said: "It is wonderful that everyone is rallying round and we hope that as many people as possible will come along. We should be able to take between 200 and 250 people on the night.

"It is a wonderful hospital and they do such amazing things there that we should all try and do what we can for them"

The big night is on Saturday, March 13, at the Tiverton Hotel with a family disco given free by DJ Ritchie, a raffle and an auction that includes footballs signed by top Premiership sides Arsenal and Manchester United.

Tickets at £5 for adults and £3 for children, are available on 01884 235902 or on the door.