TILLY Merrell - the Worcester schoolgirl who went without food for seven years - has been making up for lost time thanks to the help of a celebrity chef.

TV's Ainsley Harriot, who presents the nine-year-old's favourite programme Ready, Steady, Cook was a special guest at a surprise feast for her and her friends to help her celebrate being able to eat again.

The nine-year-old, from Borrowdale Drive in Warndon, had been fed by a tube after being diagnosed with Isolated Bulbar Palsy - a rare condition that caused food to enter her lungs instead of her stomach.

Worcester News readers helped Tilly's family raise £10,000 for her to fly out to America for tests in February - but when she got there they told her all that was wrong was enlarged tonsils. As soon as she found out, she tucked into a bacon sandwich.

The amazing story captured the attention of the worldwide media and the latest publication to pick up on it is Pick Me Up magazine - who thought the only way to help Tilly celebrate in style was to bring in Ainsley.

Tilly's mum Amelia said when her daughter walked into the room and saw the huge spread her face lit up.

"She headed straight for a fairy cake with pink icing, then wolfed down a sausage and some crisps," she said.

"It was wonderful. Then when Ainsley walked into the room she screamed with excitement.

"Ainsley was lovely - he played games with Tilly and her friends for about an hour-and-a-half.

"And he gave Tilly a signed apron and cookery book.

"She was over the moon as Ready, Steady, Cook is one of her favourite programmes. It was a dream come true for us all."

Ainsley said Tilly was a brave little girl.

"She and her family have been through so much, but the positive end to her story just shows you should never give up hope," he added.

A full feature appears in Pick Me Up magazine, on sale this week.