A poorly little girl was "over the moon" to receive thousands of surprise birthday cards from strangers across the globe - after a campaign to send her post went viral.

Abbie Paice, from Chartham near Canterbury, bravely battled leukaemia after being diagnosed when she was just two years old.

Watch Abbie's surprise as she received the giant delivery of post from across the world (Video: Briony Lane)

After five years in remission, she fell ill with some concerning symptoms last month, and her parents began to worry the cancer could be back.

The little girl was set to turn 10 on November 27 and, determined to make it a birthday to remember despite the lockdown, friends and family started a plea calling for as many people as possible to surprise Abbie by sending cards of their own.

And to their delight, thousands of well wishers from across the world - including Canada, New Zealand and Australia - surprised the little girl by sending mail.

On Saturday, postman Jon Giles arrived at Abbie's home with a van packed full of cards and gifts.

Abbie's mum Lisah said: "We are just absolutely blown away by the number of cards she got - we never in a million years thought it would reach as far as it did.

"We haven't been able to count them, but we think there are approximately 2,500 cards and packages.

"Our hallway is absolutely filled. It's been amazing.

"People care. That's what we've got from the messages - there are messages of encouragement, of love, of caring, and people genuinely concerned and willing her to get better.

"Abbie's over the moon.

"There are so many people out there who have been impacted by Covid, and they're still taking the time to send a card, or a gift, or their well wishes, when they obviously have their own concerns - it's very emotional actually."

Abbie has only managed to open about 100 items of post so far, but her mum says she is savouring each and every one.

She has donated some of the toys she received as duplicate gifts to the children's ward at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, for other poorly youngsters to enjoy.

"It's nice to see her happy when she's actually going through a bit of a rubbish time," said her mum.

"There are some quite heartfelt messages in there and offers from other children to be pen pals.

"She's so excited by the pen pal part - she's put them to one side and the minute she can, she'll write back to them."

To her family's immense relief, Abbie's tests have shown that the cancer has not returned.

But they this week found out her worrying symptoms have instead been caused by an excess build-up of spinal pressure, caused by the chemotherapy she endured when she fought cancer as a toddler.

The condition has caused pressure to build inside her head, leaving her struggling to read or write.

"It's pushed on her optic nerves at the back of her eyes, which has swollen them," said Lisah.

"It's actually damaged the one on the left hand side, so we're just trying to find out a way to prolong her sight in that eye at the moment."

A lumbar puncture has helped to release the pressure, and it is hoped Abbie's vision will return to normal within a couple of weeks.

But she will need regular lumbar punctures and medication to help prevent the pressure from building up and putting her eyesight at risk permanently.

"If we don't find something to fix the left eye and the damage that's been done, she'll very slowly, gradually start losing her sight in that eye," said Lisah.

"We're now trying to research and find a solution, whether NHS or private. We're just trying to figure out a way forward."

Abbie's parents are keen to raise money for the William Harvey Hospital.

They hope to help raise enough funds for two computer pods for poorly children to use while receiving treatment at the hospital. To donate, click here.

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