The mother of a young girl whose life was saved when a routine eye test detected a brain tumour is backing a campaign urging parents to be aware of the symptoms.

Maisy Dovey, who lives in Broadstairs with her family, was nine when she went to have her eyes tested at R&J Opticians.

Within 48 hours she was having surgery at King’s College Hospital in London to remove a large tumour which doctors think could have been growing for more than two years.

The family had an agonising two-week wait to find out if it was malignant.

Her mother Dawn, 43, said: “Even though we were told it could be benign, we didn’t know for a week or two. It was a huge relief when we found out it was non-cancerous.

“The first thing you think is ‘it’s terminal’. I was quickly reassured that it doesn’t necessarily mean that.”

Mrs Dovey said the optician could tell there was something wrong straight away.

“They were brilliant. He called Ashford hospital for them to look at her eyes and we then had to go back to the QEQM so she could have an MRI test the next morning.

“We had a really early test and she was taken straight up to King’s.”

Mrs Dovey described her daughter as “amazing” and said she was back at school within three weeks.

“Her balance was affected but other than that she was fine.

"Funnily enough, she was never able to tie her shoelaces. The tumour had been affecting her co-ordination. After the operation she was able to do it.”

Now, 18 months later, Maisy, who is 11 and at Charles Dickens Secondary School, has recovered and recent scans have been clear.

The family, who live on the Wimpey estate, are throwing their weight behind a campaign called HeadSmart.

"She was never able to tie her shoelaces. The tumour had been affecting her co-ordination. After the operation she was able to do it - Maisy's mother Dawn

Run by The Brain Tumour Charity, it aims to highlight the symptoms of childhood brain tumours.

The warning signs include vomiting, balance problems, and unusual eye movements.

Maisy had been sick and suffered headaches.

Mrs Dovey said: “If I’d seen the list of symptoms I may have picked up on it sooner.

“The campaign is really important in letting people know what to look for.”

• Find out more at www.thebraintumourcharity.org