LITTLE Madalina Zapodeanu is staying in Bolton after being flown from her orphanage in Romania for medical treatment.

The five-year-old with a cheeky smile has been seen by doctors in England to see if anything can be done about her disabled arm.

Madalina does not have an elbow on her left arm and is in Bolton thanks to the efforts of the "Good News for Romania" team who raise money for the country in Bolton.

She is staying with Kath and David Richardson at their home in Wythburn Avenue, Bolton.

The couple set up the "Good News" charity to raise money for books and Bibles for Christians in Romania and received tremendous support from local people.

They have also raised money to build a church and have taken youngsters from an orphanage on a camping holiday.

While on one of their trips in Romania the director of the orphanage where Madalina lives, Dersca in the town of Dorohoi, asked Kath if anything could be done for the little girl.

A fund-raising campaign was started, particularly involving people from the Richardsons' church, St Peter's, Halliwell. Thanks to their efforts and donations, the youngster has been able to come to England. Romanian English teacher Tony Pochiscan travelled with Madalina and they will return to Romania on Monday with the hope of returning again for surgery.

Madalina has seen a bone specialist, a physiotherapist and a plastic surgeon and Kath will know soon if anything can be done to give the youngster more movement in her arm.

While in Bolton, the little girl is making plenty of friends and picking up English.

She enjoys playing in the Richardsons' garden and Kath has managed to get her to wear a skirt instead of her favourite garment, shorts.

Kath said: "Someone brought her a skirt because she obviously didn't come to England with many items of clothing.

"We had a job getting her to wear it because she likes to wear shorts all the time."

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