LITTLE Phoebe Davies, the 16-month-old Deal girl recovering from life-saving heart surgery in Canada, is set to return home with other members of her family next Thursday.

She was released from hospital on Boxing Day and his showing signs of improvement every day, says her grandmother, Patricia Meredith. "She can smile and blow kisses like she used to," said Mrs Meredith, who returned from Canada on Christmas Eve.

Phoebe will have a scan on her return to Britain and will need a lot of physiotherapy to help her muscles develop again.

Meanwhile, readers of the East Kent Mercury newspaper, which launched the Friends of Phoebe appeal to pay for treatment in September, are still collecting cash on her behalf.