AN EIGHT-year-old girl has received her new specialist buggy after the community banded together to raise over £3,000.

Lillie Mae Branney is severely disabled, with her entire life affected by a rare condition called pontocerebellar hypoplasia, a genetic disorder that affects the brain, limiting movement and is often seen alongside other conditions.

The youngster desperately needed a larger buggy before the weather turned too poor, so she can continue to head outside for walks.

Thanks to a number of generous people, including friends and family who climbed Snowdon, Lillie's new wheels have arrived, giving grandmother Margaret Thomas the confidence to take her out despite the cold.

She said: "This buggy will make things easier for us and Lillie, especially if she has a seizure while we're out as this can be parent facing – and it also lies flat if she has a nap afterwards.

"Lillie loves it, she can now be out on our walks, all wrapped up and dry, and she can sit in this so much better than her wheelchair.

"We honestly can’t thank everyone enough, without you all donating we wouldn’t have gotten this buggy as soon as we have."

As well as football cards, hampers, and individual donations, a number of local businesses stepped in to help Lillie's fundraiser.

Glynne Lever, from Whitecroft Garage, donated £1,000 to the campaign, with Fun Valley soft play centre on Blackburn Road, the Collier's Arms on Chorley Old Road, and Funky Figures in Wigan helping to raise almost £500 between them.

Emma Parkinson, the community champion at Morrison's on Chorley Old Road, also contributed to the fund, selling sweets to colleagues and donating giant toys to Lillie and her sister Sophia.

Margaret – also known as Nanna Maggie – added: "We really are over the moon, we couldn’t have gotten it so soon without people's support, and it’s arrived just in time for the cold weather.

"As Lillie gets a lot of chest infections in winter, this will help keep her warm and covered too – you can get covers for the rain and to help with her temperature, she really struggles to regulate it herself.

"Emma has been fantastic and has said Morrison's will help us in any future fundraising we do for Lillie.

"We’ve also been given £200 from a charity called Share A Dream to put towards a chair we were buying for Lillie to be able to chill in."

Although the family were given a wheelchair for Lillie when she outgrew her buggy, the chair isn't as good at keeping her warm and dry.

With her new equipment, Lillie will be able to head outside despite the poor weather, without increasing her chances of getting a chest infection.

Visit @littlesmileruk on Facebook to follow Lillie Mae's journey and to donate.