Little Sam, the young Nepalese girl given a major operation, has returned to hospital after suffering a setback, writes David Horne.

The five-year-old picked up a serious infection and was being treated this week at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

The operation, finally carried out two weeks ago at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, followed a campaign by the Witney Gazette, a sister paper of the Oxford Mail, to bring her to Britain.

Organiser John Fox said this week: "It is a very bad infection and she was in some pain." Sam, real name Samjhana Timilsina, was born with a jaw deformity that made it impossible for her to eat solid foods.

Mr Fox met her family while on a trekking holiday in the Himalayas

This setback occurred at the same time that the Witney Gazette's Little Sam Appeal, to pay for her operation and other costs, has been boosted by an anonymous donation of 5,000.

It has come through the Miss World Organisation, run by Julia Morley. Apart from running the famous beauty contest, it also raises substantial sums for charity work. Anna Shepley, who has been organising the appeal with her work partner Mr Fox at Witney's Natural Health Clinic, told the Witney Gazette that she was delighted with the donation.

"Through Julia the organisation managed to find a large company who very generously donated the cheque to go towards Samjhana's medical treatment.

"We are very grateful for all their support, especially in the light of all the operation setbacks and her recent hospital readmission.

"I was not aware of the thriving amount of charity work the Miss World Organisation does by putting on fashion shows, events, etc, worldwide.

"We hope to be able to thank Julia in person as she would love to meet Samjhana and Mukti before they return to Nepal."