SPECIAL Constabulary officers, their family, friends and full-time colleagues have helped to raise more than �2,000 to help a Lowestoft girl enjoy the holiday of a lifetime with her family.

SPECIAL Constabulary officers, their family, friends and full-time colleagues have helped to raise more than �2,000 to help a Lowestoft girl enjoy the holiday of a lifetime with her family.

Ten-year-old Hannah Coffill, from Carlton Colville, has undergone surgery at Addenbrookes Hospital and will have to have treatment for the rest of her life after a mass was found in her brain last year.

Special Superintendent Paul Goldsmith heard about her plight and learnt that Hannah's family were aiming to finance a trip to Disney World to provide Hannah, and her younger brother and sister, with a holiday away from it all after a year of hospital visits and treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

However the cost of insurance for the trip would be more than �1,000 for Hannah and Paul pledged that he would raise money to ensure the trip could go ahead.

He spoke to his fellow volunteer officer colleagues John Walchester, Garry Smith and Martin Ashburn who agreed to help arrange an auction to be held at the annual Suffolk Special Constabulary dinner dance.

The event went ahead in Martlesham in November last year after Paul and his fellow Specials managed to get local businesses to make donations including a Hoseasons holiday, a flatscreen TV, a signed football from Norwich City football club and goodies from Ipswich Town FC. Paul would also like to thank John Port of UK Electrical, Lowestoft, in helping to co-ordinate auction prize donations from local businesses.

After a donation of �500 from the Special Constabulary Welfare Fund, more than �2,000 was raised, and this money will now go towards the trip that Hannah and her family will be taking in a few weeks time.

Hannah's mum Amanda, who herself recently completed a sky-dive to raise money for the Make-a-Wish foundation to help other children in a similar situation as her daughter, said she wanted to say thank you to all those who had contributed.

'I'm not sure how we can ever thank those who have been so generous but thanks to money from Paul raised via the auction and a donation from the Royal British Legion to help pay for the insurance and park tickets we can now enjoy a two-week holiday and the funds raised will also allow us to fulfil another dream - being able to swim with dolphins,' she said.

'Throughout her treatment Hannah has remained cheerful and we hope this trip will give her, and her younger sister and brother who have been so worried about her, a break they will remember.'