The mother of a three-year-old girl in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant has issued a desperate appeal after a donor pulled out.

Ava Stark, from Lochgelly in Fife, has a rare blood condition and will die unless she receives a stem cell transplant.

Ava has inherited bone marrow failure, and was only diagnosed in April when doctors thought she might have had leukaemia.

She now has weekly platelet transfusions and a blood transfusion every three weeks while she waits for a transplant.

Just one donor was found who matched Ava's genetic markers and she was due to undergo the operation that could save the girl's life next month.

However, ten days ago the family received the devastating news the anonymous donor was unable to go through with it.

Making a world-wide appeal for people to get tested to see if they would be a match for Ava, her mother Marie Stark, said: "Please donate. It takes two minutes of your time to get tested, and it can save Ava's life."

Details on how to find out if you are a suitable donor can be found on the Anthony Nolan charity's website.