For Georgia Snaddon stepping onto the stage and playing Cinderella has been a glittering fairytale finale to a long-running cancer nightmare.

Her mother Natalie Snaddon, 42, knows that while not everyone gets the happy ending they dream of, her daughter can at least help others to live in hope.

Georgia's performance in the starring role of Ludham Players' first pantomime has raised money for gifts and treats for children like her, seriously ill at Christmas.

Her family has been leading efforts to fundraise for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, and specifically the children's cancer ward, since Georgia's years of treatment came to an end a decade ago.

And this year her father Andy's employer Ecoglass is helping by donating 500 bottles of bubbles, used by medics to distract children from painful procedures.

The family, from Catfield, hope to travel to the hospital next week to deliver gifts for the young patients and reflect on their time at the hospital, as well as offering Georgia's hard-won recovery as a beaming beacon of hope at Christmas now she is 18.

Mrs Snaddon said Georgia was five when she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The youngster was ill for just two days when her parents were told she had the deadly condition.

It meant months of gruelling treatment and for a while Georgia was the sickest child on the ward.

She didn't finally get the all-clear until she was 15 and still has check-ups.

But for years the family has staged some sort of fundraiser so they could help the hospital at Christmas.

This year Mrs Snaddon said was extra special with Georgia, an apprentice dental nurse, taking the lead role and commanding six solos.

The players, made up of people of all ages, performed five shows in Ludham village hall with the local bakery supplying cakes for free.

'Since she has been well we have done a present-run for the children that will be in hospital over Christmas and one of the things they were crying out for was bubbles. Now she can stand on stage performing and live life to the max. It is a real happy ending,' Mrs Snaddon said. 'But all you have got in hospital is hope. The treatment is amazing and the hospital is amazing and it is lovely she can help by doing something she loves.'