THOUSANDS of viewers witnessed the delight of a brave North-East youngster during a surprise visit to Santa in the Arctic Circle.

Emma Doree and her family were accompanied by presenter Gabby Roslin as part of the BBC programme Rolf's Merry Christmas, screened yesterday.

As revealed in Monday's edition of The Northern Echo, the eight-year-old, of Ingelby Barwick, Teesside, was nominated for the Christmas surprise by the charity, Arthritis Care.

Emma, who suffers from a severe form of arthritis, had only been told she was going to the BBC in London for a special treat.

The hardest thing for mother Sally and father Ben was to keep the trip to Lapland a secret.

Mrs Doree, a teacher, said: "It was wonderful to see Emma's face when the visit to see Father Christmas was announced. She was so incredibly excited. We flew to Helsinki, and then on to Father Christmas's island in Lapland. It was simply magical."

They stayed in log cabins and Emma rode in a reindeer sled and visited Santa's Post Office.

Emma has spent many birthdays and Christmases in hospital and the family has never been able to go abroad for a holiday