A little girl left too weak to walk from cancer has bravely returned to the dance floor.

Four-year-old Lydia Yilmaz was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia while on holiday last year.

After four rounds of chemotherapy and blood transfusions, the determined little dancer has battled back and is now in remission.

Her mother Selen, 33, and father Ozgur, 34, say they are proud of their "dancing sunshine".

"When your child is diagnosed with cancer you have no idea when or how that will happen," says Selen.

"It was traumatic but right from the start we were surrounded by amazing people who made Lydia laugh, gave her strength and made her happy.

"There have been times that it was Lydia who kept me going. She is a naturally happy person. Even when she felt too weak to walk, she still smiled."

Selen and Lydia were visiting family in Istanbul, Turkey, last year when she started complaining about having sore legs and feeling exhausted.

Selen later realised her daughter also had bruises, a high temperature and swollen gums, and immediately took her to the city's Acibadem Hospital.

After tests were carried out, it was revealed Lydia was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a cancer that starts in white blood cells.

"That night was the longest night of my life," says Selen. "They ordered a blood test then another one as the doctor wanted to double check the results."

Lydia's blood counts were so low, they were taken into the special care unit. The doctor on call alerted the specialist who returned to the hospital.

"The doctors were 90% sure she had leukaemia. Our family and friends arrived at the hospital and everyone was in complete shock," says Selen.

"Lydia kept asking, 'where's my daddy?'"

Ozgur, who had remained in Glasgow to work, immediately flew to Turkey to be by his daughter's side as she began her first round of chemotherapy.

Lydia was left too weak to walk and lost all of her hair but regained enough strength to return home to Glasgow shortly before Christmas.

She was treated at the Royal Hospital for Children and, after another three rounds of chemotherapy, Lydia was able to walk again, even dancing for the nurses and playing on her scooter.

She has also written a book with help from her mother, complete with her own drawings to help other children going through hospital treatment.

Titled "I like to go to the hospital" all copies are going to be published and donated to children's charities in five continents from January 2017.

Lydia's incredible fight against her disease has been recognised by Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens and she has received a Star Award for her bravery from the charity.

The award comes after it was revealed the rate of children dying from cancer each year in Scotland has fallen by 36% in the last 20 years.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens Scotland spokeswoman, said: "Although we're losing fewer young lives to cancer, a lot more needs to be done to find new and better treatments.

"And as more children survive cancer, it's especially important that we concentrate on improving their quality of life after treatment."