A mother is organising a fund-raising horse ride to help repay the 'incredible' people who saved her son's life and tried to save her close friend.

Kyra Welch's nine-month-old son Kaiden Griffin had open heart surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital just three days after he was born.

He was diagnosed with a range of complex heart problems but is now fighting fit.

Kaiden is due to go for a second open heart surgery operation within the next few months.

Miss Welch's close friend, popular 16-year-old Ellie Loades, from Colkirk, was also treated at Great Ormond Street during her brave fight with cystic fibrosis. She died in November.

Miss Welch, 19, who lives at Dunns Lane, North Creake, is now organising a horse ride to raise money for the hospital.

She said: 'Great Ormond Street saved my son's life, so it is a charity which is very close to my heart.

'Ellie had planned to help me to organise this ride. She was one of the most incredible, amazing and inspirational people I have ever met and I was extremely privileged to have her as a close friend. The ride will be in memory of Ellie.

'I want to raise awareness of babies with congenital heart defects and cystic fibrosis, and also to raise as much money as possible for the incredible people that helped Kaiden and Ellie.'

The horse ride will be at Sly's Farm, North Creake on April 13 and about 200 people have, so far, agreed to take part.

Among them is Ellie's father Nick Loades, who will be riding Ellie's horse, Jessie.

Mr Loades had never ridden before he agreed to take part.

He said: 'It's been a bit tricky but I think I'm getting there.'

He added: 'I'm really pleased to see this young girl organising this big event in Ellie's memory, I think it's fantastic.'

Participants can choose to ride one mile, five miles, eight miles or 10 miles.

The event will start at 9.30am and the last ride out will be at 1.30pm.

For more information about how you can take part or donate, contact Miss Welch on 07917 416711.

Meanwhile, we have previously reported how Ellie's parents have set up the charity Ellie's Love, in her memory.

This raises funds for East Anglia's Children's Hospices, the Norfolk branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the teenage ward at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

All three organisations helped Ellie, who was pupil at Fakenham High School and a member of the Fakenham drama group FADLOS Kidz. For more about how you can support Ellie's Love, call Mr Loades on 07889 157895.