ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A four-year-old girl from north-west London is set to undergo life-changing surgery after a £30,000 fundraising effort launched by her mother reached its target with days to spare.

Bailey Walters-Lawrence, who suffers from cerebral palsy, will be operated on at the end of next month as part of treatment to ease painful muscle stiffness caused by her illness.

Her mother Shermel had hoped she would receive the care under an NHS clinical trial but last month was told her daughter would not qualify because it ended in March.

It left the family facing either a £30,000 bill for the surgery or a two-year wait until they could reapply for NHS funding.

The dilemma prompted Ms Walters-Lawrence to start a community fundraising effort, which thanks to friends and family has raised a staggering £31,650.

It means Bailey, who lives in Kilburn with siblings Kacey, one, and Shea, seven, and dreams of one day playing for Arsenal ladies, can be operated on to relieve her agony.

The news comes as the family was dealt a second blow after being told they would have to raise a further £15,000 to pay for Bailey's aftercare, which includes intensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

But Ms Walters-Lawrence told the Standard: "I feel amazing, I know it's only half of the task because we've got to raise money for the aftercare, but it feels amazing to have come this far.

"I want to thank everybody who's donated, no matter how small or large.

"Bailey's really excited that finally her wish can come true - she'll be able to play football and dance."

Although the family still needs to find £15,000 for aftercare and a further £10,000 for a procedure to lengthen Bailey's tendons, Ms Walters-Lawrence is hopeful that the fundraising will continue.

"I'm confident we'll raise it," she told the Standard.

"We only found out that the aftercare wouldn't be funded three weeks ago.

"We've done fun days, my mum shaved her head - went bald for Bailey, we've had baking for Bailey, bowling for Bailey, we're planning a bike ride, a sponsored walk, a half marathon."

The family had just a month to find the initial funding because the date for Bailey's operation was already set for this Spring, and she had already undergone treatment in order to prepare her for the surgery.

An NHS England spokeswoman said Bailey was not selected for funding under the clinical trial due to limits on time and participant numbers.

She added: “Current evidence is limited, but together with NICE we are exploring SDR further through our innovative evaluation programme which offers treatment to a limited number of patients who meet the clinical criteria.

“Not only does this enable these children to have potentially life-changing surgery, but it also provides a real opportunity to gather the vital evidence we need on the effectiveness of the procedure, for the benefit of our patients.”

To donate towards Bailey's after care visit https://www.justgiving.com/baileyswish/