Friends of Joyce Arnold (30) launched an appeal for Katie when they heard the devastating news she had been diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour.

In the six weeks that have passed since then the family has been inundated with requests to help and is now confident five-year-old Katie will get to go on the holiday of a lifetime with her brothers and sister.

The fund's main aim was to allow five-year-old Katie to go to Euro Disney and feel like the princess she is and the family are now hoping that will happen in July or August.

Miss Arnold said: "I have been shocked, surprised and overwhelmed by what people have done."

Katie, a pupil at Gaywood's Howard Infant School, showed no signs of the violent tumour she is suffering until October when one of her eyes became sporadically lazy.

Miss Arnold worried she was developing a squint and doctors first prescribed glasses. The devastating tumour was discovered through a scan on March 13 after the glasses failed to correct Katie's eye.

She is now battling through daily trips to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for radiotherapy and the horrendous strain of the treatment Katie is on, including huge steroid doses, which have swollen her small frame.

Miss Arnold hopes doctors will give her the all-clear to go on the trip when the current ferocious round of treatment and a follow-up MRI scan are complete.

More than £3,500 has already been raised for Katie and now a couple has approached the family and said they will pay for Katie's trip.

Miss Arnold said the incredible offer has meant she has been able to use some of the money already given to her to ease the strain of the day-to-day horrors Katie faces through her treatment and give her a few other treats along the way.

She said: "We have been able to make even routine hospital visits that bit more enjoyable for Katie. Just taking a new teddy makes her smile for the rest of the day.

"It makes such a difference when you are having to struggle with a child who is frightened. Her whole life has been completely turned upside down."

The enormous response to the For Katie Fund has meant the family, of Butterwick, Fairstead, Lynn, have put on hold an application to the Make A Wish Foundation charity for help with the trip.

Money from a number of events already held for Katie is still to be handed to the family and some other events, raffles and fundraisers are still ongoing.

Once those efforts are all added, Miss Arnold believes Katie will have all she could need to enjoy a wonderful family trip with herself, Katie's sister Sophie (14), brothers Matthew (13) and Declan (10) and the children's dad Kelvin.

Miss Arnold sent her thanks to everyone who has helped and to her friends who came up with the original idea.

She said: "They have all been so strong for me."

Katie's dad Kelvin, who is separated from Joyce and lives in Snettisham, said: "Thank you to everybody."