ANGEL-May Powell and her friends at Coalway Junior School organised a fund-raising cake sale at what could be a turning point in her life.

The youngster has a heart condition and she and her family have received a lot of support from the British Heart Foundation.

As Angel-May turned eight a couple of weeks she can now be considered for surgery to replace a defective heart valve.

Angel-May has mitral valve prolapse which means the valve which should stop blood flowing back into the bottom chamber from the top chamber on the left side of her heart does not work properly.

It can cause irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, tiredness and makes her prone to infection.

Her mum Claire explained: "She has had the problem since she was three when she caught tonsillitis.

"Something in the tonsillitis bug destroyed the heart valve and so she needs a new one.

"Now that she is eight she can have surgery and we are going to see the cardiac surgeon in Cheltenham on March 14 and the surgery would take place at Gloucester Royal Hospital.

"The school has been really good and because she needs to drink ice-cold water if she has her palpitations they always have some on hand."

Mrs Powell said the cake sale was the first of a series of fund-raisers in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

She added: "The BHF have been absolutely brilliant. They have provided lots of support for Angel-May and the rest of the family.

"They paid for a holiday so we could get some respite."

Mrs Powell also praised children, staff and parents at Coalway Junior.

She said: "The children and everyone at the school have been great. They are really supportive and understanding.

"We asked people to bring in cakes for the sale and there has been a fantastic response and most of the cakes were baked at home."

The bake made £170 and a raffle being organised by teaching assistant Becky Chandler and other staff has already raised £90. The draw will be made on Friday.

Mrs Powell said: "There are 220 pupils at the school and they have been fantastic."