A TEENAGER from the USA who is recovering from a brain tumour has had her greatest wish granted - to visit a museum dedicated to her favourite author.

Rose Wright travelled with her family more than 4,000 miles from Carbondale, in southern Illinois, to the World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, for a tour of Alf Wight’s former home and veterinary surgery.

The 15-year-old was shown how to handle birds of prey, visited the set of the All Creatures Great And Small television drama series and given a tour around the museum by the best-selling author’s daughter, Rosie Page.

After hearing about the family life of the real James Herriot, Rose, her sister Emma, 13, and parents Aaron and Trisha, were then taken to Sutton Bank, to look at Mr Wight’s favourite view.

They are set to go horseriding in the Yorkshire Dales today (Friday, June 14) and hope to visit some of the beauty spots featured in the television series.

The visit was organised by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which organises trips for children with life-threatening conditions.

Rose said she had been addicted to the tales of the North Yorkshire veterinary practice since she was introduced to picture books as a young child and that she aspired to become a vet.

She said: “I was enchanted when I read the books with the animals, the charming and driven vets, the British culture and the farmers who love their animals like people.

“We don’t have anything like that in the United States and so this really is a dream come true.

“The storylines in current movies and television shows in the US are a fad, but the Herriot stories were made in the 1960s and 1970s and I think it is better to invest in something like that.”

Rose’s father, Aaron, a lawyer, said his family had been astounded by the foundation’s attention to detail during their trip and visiting the museum had been “pure joy”.

Mrs Page said: “There is still the most staggering amount of interest around the world in James Herriot because the stories are timeless and appeal to every sort of intellect.”

The museum has seen visitor numbers rise by about ten per cent since the Herriot Country Tourism Group took over its management from Hambleton District Council last year, and launched a number of new displays and a marketing drive.