Super trouper Rachel Pickard was today celebrating the tenth birthday her parents feared she would never reach.

DANCING QUEENS: Rachel (left) with her best friend, Abigail Derry, get in the party mood

The youngster from Osbaldwick, York, almost lost her life just over six months ago when she was knocked down on a York pelican crossing.

But she pulled through to make a good recovery, and today she was holding a fancy dress party at Osbaldwick Village Hall to celebrate reaching a key milestone.

And the Abba fan decided to dress as singer Agnetha for the day in a specially-made costume, while her best friend, Rosie Derry, was dressing as the other female singer in the Swedish pop group, Annifrid.

"She loves dancing and Abba," said Rachel's mother Shirley, who was expecting up to 60 guests at the party.

She said she wanted a specially big celebration because of what Rachel had been through. "We are just glad she is here with us."

She added that Rachel was doing well, although she had continued to suffer recurrent bouts of infection, for example to her tonsils. This was because she had lost her ability to fight infection following the removal of her spleen after the accident in Hull Road, in which a car was shunted into Rachel by a Royal Mail van.

The family enjoyed a trip to Disneyland, Paris, last month which Rachel thoroughly enjoyed before falling ill towards the end, she added.

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