A BRAVE 12-year-old girl who underwent a leg amputation has won the hearts of residents at a Bury sheltered housing complex.

They have raised £330 for the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham where Samina Bashir had her right leg removed in April after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the pelvic bone.

Now, after undergoing months of home tuition, Samina is poised to resume lessons at Broad Oak High School in September. And she is also scheduled to have a prosthetic limb fitted before the end of the year.

The girl's great grandmother June Dobson and fellow residents at the Anchor-run Holly Court sheltered accommodation complex in Pimhole Road, Bury, decided to stage two fundraising barbecues and raffles, the proceeds of which will go to the hospital. Earlier, Gemma's Beauty Parlour in Bury raised £300 for Samina.

Samina's mum, Stacey MacDonald, said: "Last year, my daughter developed knee pain and at first we thought this was down to growing pains. But weeks later, a lump appeared on the pelvic bone which began to expand."

In July 2014, the 12-year-old underwent a course of chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital which was to last a period of seven months.

Miss MacDonald added: "We were told it would be hard to shrink that kind of tumour, although it did look as if it had stopped growing. But the damage had already been done and in April of this year Samina had what is called a hind quarter amputation at the Birmingham hospital."

Samina spent six weeks in hospital and also had to undergo separate skin graft surgery to cover the wound. She now walks with crutches and also has her own scooter and wheelchair to aid her mobility.

A prosthetic leg is now being made for the brave girl and, hopefully, it should be fitted by the end of the year. Her mum continued: "But the problem is that the socket is not there and it might have been better if there had been a stump. At this stage, I don't know how the prosthetic leg will be fitted. But they are willing to make one and there is determination in Samina's face. I admire her every day."

Thanks to the Make a Wish and CLIC Sargent charities, the Bury girl has written letters to her idol, Taylor Swift, and hopes to receive a reply. She was unable to see the star perform in Manchester earlier this year. "Samina is obsessed with Taylor Swift," said Miss MacDonald. "Obviously, she would love to met her but we're hoping she may get a letter from her."