A BEAUTIFUL garden in memory of a brave little girl has been officially opened in the grounds of her primary school.

Mytham Primary School held a special memorial and garden dedication service for pupil Jessica Alice Green, who lost her battle against a brain tumour last April.

Jessica courageously fought the illness for three years — defying the odds when doctors gave her just nine months to live.

Children were joined by Jessica's parents Carl Green and Lisa McLoughlin for the special service.

Jessica was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma — an aggressive brain tumour — in March 2011, aged just three.

Doctors told Jessica’s parents they would not be able to operate on the tumour and gave the youngster just nine months to live.

But after a course of radiotherapy, Jessica went on to live for another three years.

Angela Eastwood, headteacher of the Little Lever School, said: "When Jessica died, the whole school community was moved.

"The children wanted to do something which would be a permanent memorial to a brave girl whose special gift was to make everyone she met smile and laugh.

"The children wanted a garden to be called Jessica's Garden."

Pupils led a fundraising drive to raise money for the garden.

During the service poems were read out and Reverend Philip Brookes of Christ Church Little Lever said a prayer for Jessica and the family.

A tree was planted by Jessica's parents in their daughter's memory and Mytham Community Choir sang the song 'Morning'.

Those gathered listened to I See the Light from Disney's Tangled.

Purple and pink balloons were also released and a memorial stone was unveiled

Mrs Eastwood said: "It was very emotional. The garden will be a quiet place of reflection.

"Children will be able to sit and chat in there or read."