THE parents of a desperately ill girl last night issued a last minute plea for a new heart that would save her life.

Ten-year-old Emma Standish has just five days to live if a suitable heart is not found.

She was taken to Newcastle's Freeman Hospital by ambulance from Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester, last night.

Emma, who has a twin brother, Adam, was struck by a mystery virus which attacked her heart.

In a case which mirrors that of seven-year-old Yorkshire girl Sally Slater, Emma's family pleaded with bereaved parents last night to think of them even in their darkest hour.

Emma's parents Deborah 30, and Darren, 31, of Farnworth, Lancashire, were travelling to the hospital, a national centre of excellence, with Emma.

Her aunt, Julie Cartwright, 33, said: "We want our message to hit home to parents that we are in a desperate situation.

"Emma can have another chance, but her only hope is for a donor heart to be found within five days.

"A mechanical heart which will operate alongside her own will be fitted at Newcastle and that will keep her alive for up to five days."

Emma was struck by the virus in June and her condition has slowly deteriorated.

Her condition took a serious turn for the worse on Monday and doctors in Manchester told her parents that a transplant was the only hope.

She was due to be transferred by air ambulance last night but the weather was too bad, so she was taken on a three-hour journey by road to the hospital.

Emma's grandmother, Christine Cartwright, said: "We would just beg people to think of us, even as they face their own grief.