BRIDGWATER coffee drinkers have taken part in a fundraising campaign to support a family whose baby has battled a brain tumour.

Lyra Cole, now 18 months, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at six months old and has received life-saving surgery.

A second tumour which turned out to be a cyst also had to be removed this summer which had caused Lyra to lose her sight.

She battled bravely to come through the operations and has now regained her sight, much to the relief of parents Ellie Hawkes and Daniel Cole from Highbridge.

Close family friend Tatum Clews, a manager at Costa Coffee in Bridgwater, held a fundraising day in Bridgwater to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

Lyra’s aunt, Jessie Hawkes, is leading a fundraising drive to raise £2,800 to fund a day’s research and Lyra will then receive recognition as a Little Heroine.

The event raised over £100 and a collection jar at the shop has already reached £50 in donations.

Tatum said: “We sampled festive drinks and food throughout the day, along with special visits from Olaf, Minnie Mouse and Pocahontas.

“The cause is very close to my heart as Lyra, who is the daughter of a close friend, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at six months old, and again at 13 months.

“She is now 18 months old and is just the most beautiful girl.

“Brain Tumour Research supported her family through the hardship and we just want to say thank you for saving her life.”

Doctors said if the tumour had been left just another 24 hours the outcome could have been very different as it had started to haemorrhage.

Lyra recovered but at her first birthday on May 12 her family noticed something was wrong again.

Her aunt Jessie Hawkes said: “We all thought the worst that the tumour was back but it turned out that it was a cyst which was growing close to her optical nerve and had affected her sight.

“At one point she was diagnosed fully blind but she has bravely fought this and can see again.

“She got through it all again and really is our little miracle. Doctors are amazed she has done so well.”

The next fundraising event, a Santa’s Grotto, is to be held at the Lighthouse pub in Burnham-on-Sea on Friday (December 12) from 5pm to 9pm, with around 600 people expected.

All tickets to see Santa are booked but people can just turn up to enjoy some live music and see Santa arriving on his sleigh.