A ten-year-old girl born with a skull deformity has battled back after a life-threatening bout of meningitis saw her weight plummet to just over two stones.

Lindsey Ackroyd, was born with craniosynotosis, or premature fusing of the skull bones, and caught meningitis before having to undergo life-saving operations which her parents never believed she could survive.

But the courageous youngster, of Quarry Road, Gomersal, has spent the last few months battling through the operations and illnesses and has bounced back to her usual happy self.

Lindsey's latest problems began when she had an uncontrollable fit last July.

"I had to call for an ambulance and doctors at Dewsbury saved her life," said mum Katharine, 40, pictured here with Lindsey. "They couldn't get any lines into her because she had gone into shock. They fought for ages and eventually managed to ventilate her."

Lindsey was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, but when she was allowed home she began to suffer more problems.

"She couldn't even stand up straight and was transferred to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool," said Mrs Ackroyd. "A blood reading showed there was an infection so they did lots of tests, including CT scans."

A problem with the shunt - which controls drainage of fluid from her brain - forced surgeons to perform another operation but problems with the anaesthetic led to a lung collapse. "We nearly lost her," said Mrs Ackroyd.

Again, Lindsey left hospital, but suffered more problems before doctors realised a part of the shunt had penetrated Lindsey's bowel.

Lindsey was rushed from Dewsbury to Alder Hey and had more operations. At the same time, she caught meningitis via her shunt. Doctors feared they may not be able to save her. "It got so bad at one point that they were just feeding antibiotics straight into her brain," said Mrs Ackroyd.

Lindsey is slowly recovering from the traumatic few months. "She has been brilliant and thankfully she is making a good recovery," said Katharine.