Staff said it was "absolutely wonderful" to have her back at her desk and gave her a warm welcome for her return to school.

Her dad, George Skinner, said it's hard to believe the grinning seven-year-old underwent major surgery less than a month ago.

Alice skipped into school yesterday for the first time since the operation and her 38-year-old dad was there to see her back into the classroom.

The salesman, who lives with Alice's mum, Nicola Andrews, 37, in Templeton Close, Hartlepool, said: "It is amazing how well she has recovered.

"It just shows what great determination she has got. You can knock her down but she will get straight back up again." Alice, who was born without kidneys, underwent a five-hour operation at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary on Friday, April 4.

Just two weeks after the operation she was back home and now, less than a month later, she is back at school.

George said: "She really wanted to go back to school.

"It has been brilliant to see her going back. She loves it there and hates school holidays.

"We are going to ease her back in slowly and she will be staying half a day at first but it's hard to believe she is back so soon. Because of school holidays, she has only technically missed a week of lessons, so that's good.

"People are off longer with chicken pox."

George added that the staff at Clavering Primary School, where Alice is in Year 2, have been very supportive.

He said: "They have held special assemblies to tell the other children about the operation and to be careful around her when she comes back.

"Alice is really looking forward to being able to do PE again and to eat her school dinner.

"She's eating three times as much as she did before the operation."

School headteacher Tony Metcalfe said: "It is absolutely wonderful to have Alice back. She is the life and soul of the party and if anyone deserves success, it's Alice."