A BRAVE little Worcester girl who suffers from a rare digestive problem will be enjoying a family Christmas after becoming well enough to be allowed out of hospital.

Plucky Lauren Davis has spent a large amount of her short life in hospital but her family believe the New Year will prove a better one for her.

Lauren's grandmother, Josie Cornes, and her mother Amanda Cornes had to be trained to feed the little girl through a parental line system which allows her all the nutrients she needs.

Until recently, the two-year-old was fed through the parental line system seven days a week.

She is now fed through a tube in her nose for two days a week, which is better for her health

"She's been really well - she was on the machine every night, but is now only on five nights a week," said Miss Cornes.

"She's a lot better this year than last year - things could look good for the New Year."

Lauren spent this year and last being regularly re-admitted to Birmingham's Diana Princess of Wales Children's Hospital.

Previous tests have shown she is one of only five people in the world who has a defective gene, which means she cannot break down body salts and loses body fluids.

Doctors have still not been able to say what Lauren's illness is.

In September, the Evening News reported how Lauren went on holiday for the first time to Butlins in Minehead with her mum and grandparents after regulars at The Fox Inn, St John's, raised money at quiz nights.

"Lauren's growing and putting on weight," said Miss Cornes, aged 21.

"She's excited about spending Christmas at home.

Miss Cornes, of Essex Close, Dines Green, said her daughter now attended Dines Green nursery for one-and-a-half hours a week, every Tuesday.

"She's mixing with normal children there, not special children," she said.

"She'll be spending Christmas Day with me, my partner and her grandparents at my house.

"Six weeks was the longest she'd spent at home last year, but this year she's been at home for around six months."