DOCTORS have discovered that a brain tumour is behind a schoolgirl's severe illness.

Eight-year-old Eve Anderson was rushed to hospital after she collapsed near her home in Northumberland's Bedlington on Valentine’s Day last year.

Medics were unsure what was causing a bleed on her brain and have fought for months to stabilise her condition so they could investigate.

Medics at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary have now confirmed a tumour is growing on the youngster’s brain stem.

Eve will soon begin a six-week course of radiotherapy to help shrink the tumour and her loved ones are optimistic about the future.

Stepfather Peter Miller described the news as a “setback” but said that Eve will keep fighting.

He said: “At least we are getting the answers now to a degree. Now we have got the answers the picture is becoming clearer.

“Eve came home for the first time yesterday.

“She responded very well to that. It is all a matter of time and how long it takes.”

As it stands, Eve is still too poorly to walk or talk and needs 24-hour care.