SIX-YEAR-OLD Leah Davy, from Cradley Heath, is a step nearer to being able to walk unaided - thanks to a golden-hearted pub landlady and a whole cast of stars famous in the Asian community.

Harj Uppal (correct), landlady of Harji Bhaji's bar and lounge - formerly the Royal Oak - in Springfield, Rowley Regis, was so touched when she heard about a £35,000 appeal to pay for an operation for Leah that she set about organising a special night of entertainment to raise money.

Well-known DJs from Raaj FM Radio, BritAsia TV presenter Sukhi Bart and singer Apache Indian, who had a 1990s hit with Boom Shack-A-Lak, were among those who featured in the event, which raised nearly £2,500 for Leah's surgery.

Others included singer Boota Pardesi and DJ Mick St Claire.

Their effort has brought the total raised over the last two years by Leah's family, friends and well-wishers to £30,000 - just £5,000 short of their target.

"It's brilliant and we now just need that last push to raise enough for Leah to have her operation," said the youngster's mum, Katherine (correct) Davy, aged 29.

Leah, who recently moved with her mother and three-year-old sister Emie from Springfield, Rowley Regis, to Coombe Hill, Cradley Heath, was born with spastic diplegia, leaving her unable to put her feet flat on the floor because the muscles in her legs are too tight.

The youngster, a pupil at Springfield Primary School, Rowley Regis, can get around only with the help of a wheelchair or "K" walker, but her family hopes that surgery through her spinal cord to cut some of the nerves, allowing more freedom of movement for her legs, would help her to be able to walk.

"The NHS is not funding surgery like this at the moment until it has evaluated the results of about 100 operations carried out," said Mrs Davy.

"There are risks to it - Leah could end up paralysed - but she might end up in a wheelchair full time anyway and I want her to have the chance of walking.

"We are now hoping to pay for surgery at a hospital in Bristol, which carries out these operations. If not, we would have to raise double the amount and take her to the USA."

Mrs Davy added that Leah was generally a "happy little girl" and her condition was "normal" to her.

"But it upsets her sometimes, for instance when she can't do things like go on school trips," she said.

Ms Uppal now plans to organise more fund-raising to boost Leah's fund.

"We want to carry on until we get sufficient for Leah to have her operation," said Ms Uppal.