EIGHT-year-old Bethany Povey, who cartwheeled her way through cancer treatment, has been named a "Little Star" by Cancer Research UK.

Bethany, of Springfield Road, Wantage, was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia in July and has undergone painful chemotherapy treatments, the loss of her hair and separation from her two brothers and sister.

But she has amazed her family and the staff at the John Radcliffe's Kamran ward by smiling, bouncing on her bed and even turning cartwheels.

Craig Williams, 46, from Kidlington, whose son Sam, 16, is also being treated for cancer on Kamran ward, was so impressed with Bethany's courage, he nominated the Wantage C of E Primary School pupil for one of Cancer Research UK's Little Stars Awards.

Mr Williams said: "I have never met anyone who has stayed so happy and smiley while going though such a tough battle.

"She is cheeky and very outgoing. The favourite image I have of her is her cartwheeling down the ward at night with my daughter, with her Hickman line (catheter) flying about.

"My wife once went into Bethany's room to find her bouncing on the bed trying to touch the ceiling while she was having a blood transfusion.

"She is a great girl and her constant beaming smile has made a lot of other people smile - she deserves this award."

The Little Star awards are given to all under-17s who are nominated and have undergone cancer treatment in the last five years.

Recipients receive a certificate signed by actor David Tennant, pop star Kylie Minogue, footballer Ryan Giggs and other famous faces, and a trophy.

Bethany's mum, Sam Povey, 32, said: "It's lovely that Craig has nominated Bethany for this award, when his own family is also going through so much.

"The last five months have been a roller-coaster, but I have been constantly surprised and so proud of how Bethany has coped.

"She has had four courses of chemotherapy and only once did she falter. She turned to me one day and said she could not go on. I told her she had to and that it would be OK and she never complained again.

"There have been times when she was very poorly and upset.

"When she started to lose her hair, her brothers (James, 11 and Robert, six) and sister Courtney,(ten) came into the hospital. We plaited her long brown hair and then we cut off the plaits - we all cried then - her ordeal has been felt by all the children.

"But she has dealt with everything so well, and I have told her she could now face anything."

Mrs Povey continued: "It has been terrible to see her suffering and feel powerless to help. But the staff and doctors have been simply wonderful, as have my family, in particular my sister Becky, who put her life on hold to care for my other children while I was in hospital with Bethany."

Two weeks ago Bethany's treatment ended and she is now in remission.

She returned home on Tuesday.

She said: "I am glad to see my family again. I am pleased to be a Little Star and I will be getting a goody bag which is exciting. And I am still doing cartwheels."

Cancer Research UK is inviting friends and relatives to nominate other young cancer patients for Little Star Awards.