A SIX-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she a baby has released a charity single this Christmas to help find a cure for the disease.

Lyra Cole, six, from Highbridge, has made the recording of the Christmas classic 'When A Child is Born' to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

The six-year-old was just five months old when she underwent emergency surgery to remove a brain tumour after being initially misdiagnosed with a virus.

The tumour, which was the size of an orange, took 11 hours to remove and Lyra underwent a second procedure to restore her sight a year later.

Now, with the help of her aunt Jessie Hawkes, who is the creative director of media company The Digital Ladder, Lyra has recorded the single and performs in the music video which accompanies it.

Money from the sale of the single will go to Brain Tumour Research and the family has also set up a Facebook fundraiser for the charity.

Jessie said: “Lyra really is a superstar, she loves to perform and has a beautiful voice. I hope people agree that her personality really comes across in the video which was shot partly at The Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare which has been a really special place for our family over the years.

“We chose the track When A Child is Born because I think it will really resonate with people and I hope that when they listen and see the video they will think about everything Lyra has been through and make a donation to give hope to families who, like us, know the devastation caused by a brain tumour.”

Jessie said 'When A Child is Born' was a number one hit for Johnny Matthis in 1976 and Lyra’s favourite version is by Sir Cliff Richard so she used it that was used as inspiration for her single.

Lyra and Jessie recorded the track at Joules Productions and it was remastered by Fluid Mastering.

Lyra said: “I’m really hoping that the song makes it into the Christmas charts. That would be a dream come true.”

Locations including Saunders Garden Centre, Mendip Snowsport Centre and Tropicana Icescape are featured in the video and the video will be live on the Brain Tumour Research website this weekend.

Michelle Michael, director at the Grand Pier in Weston, said: “I first met Lyra last March and she has become something of a poster girl for the Pier.

"She is a great little girl, a real superstar, who loves performing and so we were pleased when we were asked if she could film part of her video for this single on the Pier.

"We are delighted to be able to help with increasing awareness of the release of this lovely song for such a great cause.”

To listen to Lyra’s Christmas single and watch the video go www.braintumourresearch.org/lyra-cole