A GIRL who is battling cancer had the chance to try out a new play area which opened at a hospital.

Tia Taggart, 10, from Padiham was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of cancer which affects bones or tissues around bones, in October 2015.

Since then, Tia who attends St John The Baptist RC Primary School in Padiham, has undergone multiple sessions of radiotherapy and doses of chemotherapy.

But in a moment of respite, Tia was able to enjoy the new play area which opened on Wednesday in the children’s unit of Royal Blackburn Hospital where she is staying.

Proud dad Lee Taggart said: “Tia loved trying it out and the play area is fabulous.

“It makes a massive difference to the children to have this and play in the fresh air and improve their hospital experience.”

And Tia has also been paid a visit by firefighters from Padiham Fire Station to mark her 10th birthday, which she celebrated on March 17.

Tia’s birthday was marked by an appeal for people to send as many birthday cards for her birthday as they can.

It has seen Tia receive almost 3,000 cards following her appeal, with birthday wishes coming in from across the globe.

Dad Lee added: “We’re overwhelmed by the response and it’s helped make her birthday so special.”

And Tia will be one of many children to try out the new play area which is joined onto the children’s unit at the hospital.

A donation of around £100,000 from Euro Garages Group has fully funded the exterior play area and its equipment.

Director of nursing for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, Chris Pearson said: “I am so excited about this as we have waited a long time for an outside play area and this is just wonderful. We have a number of children with long term conditions for whom the hospital has become somewhat of a second home. This play area will make a huge difference to the time that they and their families, including siblings spend on the children’s unit. Thank you so much to EG Group.”

EG Group’s commercial director, Ilyas Munshi added: “This is one of a number of donations we have made to our local hospital. It is especially pleasing to be able to provide this lovely play area for the youngest patients, giving them access to fresh air and exercise and making their hospital stay that little bit better.”