A GIRL who was fitted with metal bones which grow as she does has been given the all-clear from cancer.

Doctors discovered a bone tumour called osteosarcoma in nine-year-old Lily Willis's right leg last February after she came home from school limping.

The tumour, on her right leg, meant that her entire knee, tibia and part of her femur had to be removed and rebuilt with stainless steel adjustable bones.

The operation took 14-hours to complete and Lily had to undergo a gruelling course of chemotherapy afterwards.

As she grows, a magnet will be placed around her leg which will allow doctors to lengthen the bones in her shin and thigh as required.

She has now been told she has beaten the cancer and has also managed to walk again for the first time.

Her family, from Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, are looking forward to the New Year after the news was delivered by medics at the Great North Children’s Hospital at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Lily's mother Tori, 30, said: "It is brilliant that Lily doesn’t have to have any more treatment and no more chemotherapy. We have her back.

"It has been a huge weight off our minds when we think some kids might not be as lucky as Lily.

"She has been so amazing. It has all gone over her head and she has just got on with it."

Now the family, which includes father Bryan, 40, and Lily’s sisters Ruby, two, and Jessie, five, can look to the future together.

Mrs Willis said Lily's health is going from strength-to-strength now her course of chemotherapy has finished.

She may have to have more surgery when she reaches her teenage years, but the Lumley Junior School pupil is looking forward to getting her independence back.

Mrs Willis said: "Lily is doing a full week at school now as well and she keeps saying how much energy she has."

Lily will also be going to Disneyland Paris for her 10th birthday in November after all her friends at school and other friends of the family got involved in a fundraising campaign.

Mrs Willis said: "She wanted to go straight away but her consultant said she can't go yet.

"2012 could not have got any worse and we all know that 2013 is going to be a good year for us."