A BRAVE little girl from Port Glasgow who is battling cancer suffered a serious setback after a contracting life threatening sepsis.

Rosie Veronica Mitchell was struck down after picking up an infection.

The six-year-old had just completed a session of chemotherapy to treat neuroblastoma when she became very poorly.

Her mum Donna-Louise Hurrell said: "Rosie has had a tough few days.

"As a result of a bad infection, she got sepsis and needed a bit of help to get through.

"This hit just at her lowest point post-chemo so it was a double whammy which made her quite ill."

Her mum says she is being treated with antibiotics and will remain in hospital until she is well enough to continue with her cancer treatment.

Donna-Louise, 40, who lives with Rosie, husband Ross and twin sons Dylan and Lucas in Kingston Dock, said her daughter has bounced back.

She said: "As usual she fought with everything she had.

"She is responding well to antibiotics and all her 'numbers', as she calls them, have improved."

Her parents recently set up Rosie's Fighting Fund to pay for life-saving treatment abroad and the appeal has smashed the £50,000 mark.

A few weeks ago the family celebrated good news after receiving the youngster's latest scan results.

Donna-Louise, a teacher, said:"We got her latest scan results and things are looking better - no new cancer hot spots and all areas in her bones where there is cancer are showing improvement, as is bone marrow.

"In short, the chemo is doing its job and neuroblastoma is under control at moment.

"This means we can push on and start looking at next steps."

The community has been touched by the schoolgirl's plight and continues to rally round.

On Sunday hordes of supporters, aptly named Rosie's Rascals, donned waterproofs to walk in the rain from Greenock Town Hall to the Gamble Halls in Gourock.

The walkers enjoyed a reception afterwards with food courtesy of Kyla McKinlay while there was a DJ and glitter hair and make up from Back Street Hair Salon.

Sadly Rosie was too ill to attend but was there in spirit but the walk raised £2,300 for her fund.

Her mum has thank everyone for their support.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the fund should visit www.solvingkidscancer.org.uk/rosiemitchell