A MOTHER from Perham Down, near Tidworth, braved Saturday's bitterly cold weather to stand outside and collect money for the hospital that saved her daughter's life.

Pam Fleming (27) painted her face and donned a bright red wig to stand in the Old George Mall, Salisbury, and collect money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, as a thank-you for their part in curing her daughter, who had a hole in her heart.

Five-year-old Victoria was actually born with four holes in her heart, as well as a leaky valve, and had her first operation when she was just 11 months old.

Regular check-ups have followed ever since, and Mrs Fleming said she and her husband, Andrew (32), an army medic, would not have coped had it not been for the "wonderful" treatment they had received from staff at the London hospital.

"Words can't describe how great they were," she said.

"If we had a problem, they were always there - a cup of tea, a friendly chat, they didn't even mind you ringing in the middle of the night. They saved my daughter's life."

Victoria was just a month old when doctors realised she was not well and referred her to a paediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He told her parents that she would need urgent surgery, but Victoria was very underweight for her age and had to be put on a complex course of medication before surgeons could proceed.

"She was 11 months old before she was strong enough to have the operation," said Mrs Fleming.

"Even then, her heart stopped three times in the theatre, and an operation that should have taken three hours actually took six. I didn't think she was going to survive - we were so worried."

But Victoria came through the operation and made a quick recovery.

"I look at her now and she is just the complete opposite," said Mrs Fleming. "She can enjoy most activities, too - she just has to be a bit careful."

Victoria still has one tiny hole in her heart and one bigger one that doctors are keeping an eye on.

If that hole gets bigger, Victoria will need another operation, but she was having another check-up at Great Ormond Street Hospital on Monday, and Mrs Fleming said her daughter's heart was growing stronger all the time.

Mrs Fleming was hoping to have raised more than £450 from Saturday's street collection.