A TV actress lent her support to a charity ball organised by family and friends of a girl who suffered a brain tumour.

Birds of a Feather star Linda Robson attended the event to support 10-year-old Brooke Smee, of Mersey Way, Chelmsford, who was diagnosed with a tumour last year and is now in remission after going through several operations, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

More than £5,000 was raised at the ball, held at the Essex Golf and Country Club in Earls Colne, which will be split between various cancer charities, including The Brain Tumour Charity.

Brooke’s mum, Kayley, said: “We are all celebrating life and what better way to do it than hold a ball.

“I remember sitting at the hospital, staring at the machines around Brooke and wondering why this was happening to us.

“I decided to put my negative thoughts into something positive and give back to charities that have supported us.”