FRIENDS and family of a four-year-old girl from Sutton who has been diagnosed with a rare disease are raising money to send her on a dream trip to Disneyland Paris before the disease affects her eyesight.

Kaycee Bradshaw, who is the youngest of six siblings, has been diagnosed with the terminal condition Batten Disease.

Funds raised could also help her mother travel to and from London's Great Ormond Street hospital, when Kaycee starts undergoing a treatment to slow the effects of the condition.

Kaycee's mum Claire Bradshaw, 43, of Padeswood Close, said: "It's a very, very rare disease - the doctor we went to hadn't dealt with another case in all their years as a doctor.

"Kaycee was completely normal as a baby and then, when she was two she was diagnosed with epilepsy. From then, all her mobility went, she couldn't walk or talk. After a year or so of tests, she was diagnosed with Batten Disease."

She added: "It's desperately sad for the family, her brothers and sisters love her and help me with her, but we're just taking each day as it comes.

"We've been referred to Great Ormond Street to see a consultant who can give a treatment which slows the disease down. There's no cure but it could prolong her life. We'd have to travel down to London every two weeks."

She added, Kaycee, who goes to Eaves Primary School, is still a smiley child who enjoys playing and going to school.

She said: "Sometimes crying and shouting is her only means of communication as she gets frustrated - everything will slowly close down and that's why we want to get her to Disneyland Paris while she can still see all the colourful characters there.

"I can't keep track of all the things people are doing to raise money for us - two strangers have even had their heads shaven - I'm just so grateful."

Batten Disease is a disorder of the nervous system that usually begins in childhood. The first symptom is usually progressive vision loss in previously healthy children followed by personality and behavioural changes and seizures.

Neighbour Tracey Thompson, set up a just giving page to send Kaycee to Disneyland before she loses her sight. So far, she has raised more than £1,400 of the £5,000 target.

Karen McKeegan, who has a daughter at school with Kaycee, has also set up a page. She said: "My daughter Lily will be taking part in the Rainford 1k family fun run on October 2, 2016.

"Her reason for running is to help her beautiful little school friend Kaycee.

"All money raised will go towards a trip to Disneyland with her family before she loses her sight, and also with travel expenses to London to see a specialist to help prolong her life."

To donate go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding, or justgiving.com/crowdfunding/karen-mckeegan.