The jingling of a bell has rarely been so joyful as when schoolgirl Ruby Young carried out the simple act to celebrate the end of an eight-year fight battling against an aggressive form of cancer.

At one point, the courageous 10-year-old's family were told she had a 10% chance of survival after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma just days after her second birthday.

The emotional occasion took place at 3pm yesterday at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham where Ruby spent much of her childhood undergoing gruelling treatment and surgery.

There to watch, were mum Vikki, dad Rob, older brother Freddy, 12, and some of the medical staff who have lovingly cared for Ruby over the years.

Fighting back tears, Vikki said: "There were many times, I thought this day would never happen. I have stopped myself from saying 'all-clear'.

"But, after five years of being cancer-free, we have been told that it is highly unlikely it will return."

Ruby will still have to have follow-up appointments for the long-term effects of the disease which has left her partially deaf and with mobility and anxiety issues.

But Vikki, 37, said: "They will no longer be checking for cancer. "

The couple have always been open to Ruby about her high-risk stage 4 diagnosis, even though she was too young to recall much of the trauma in the early days.

Vikki said: "She remembers being in pain and having cannulas put in. And she still shouts out for nurses at night. But she knows now how to Google her name, so she can read all about it."

Ruby is currently a pupil at Thames View Primary School in Rainham, where she is playing catch-up after missing so much of her education.

She is getting weekly extra tuition and next year will be attending a special needs school.

Vikki said: "She loves art and pottery and has always been creative, even when she was in hospital.

"But she know she is different. She's behind in her reading, wears a hearing aid and can't keep up with the others.

"She has a large scar on her belly, so is self-conscious and will not be wearing a crop top."

Over the years, a massive £500,000 has been raised for Solving Kids' Cancer for research and to pay for treatment abroad.

At the time the money was raised, the high-profile campaign was supported on social media by celebrities including Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, musician Rick Wakeman, England fly-half Danny Cipriani and The Only Way Is Essex’s Mario Falcone.

In fact, little Ruby was also nominated for a Pride in Medway Award for her courage two years in row.

Vikki, who works from the family home in Monmouth Close, Rainham, as a receptionist, said: "We were told that with her condition there was a 70% chance of a relapse and if so she would have to go to America to get treatment that's not available in the NHS.

"It's a miracle that didn't happen."

The money raised will remain in a pot to boost the charity's funds.

Vikki said: "The Medway hospital has become a second home for us, splitting our time to be with Ruby or looking after Freddy.

"Ruby loves it there and has made many friends."

So when Ruby broke her toe at the weekend chasing after their pet English bulldogs, Chunk and Bonnie, a trip to A&E did not pose the problem it might have done to some families.

Vikki said: "To us this was something minor, like the flu. You know it will heal, unlike cancer."