Seven-year-old Alice Skinner, who was born without any kidneys, is enjoying being able to eat festive treats like chocolate and taste her first proper Christmas dinner.

She received the new organ that changed her life in April after an agonising four-year wait.

Dad George, 39, said: "Having the kidney makes a major difference to Alice. This is the first Christmas she hasn't had to travel to Newcastle for dialysis.

"She was able to eat Christmas dinner which she could never do before because she wasn't allowed potatoes and meat.

"Now Alice is allowed to eat whatever she wants and not be worried about what it is going to do to her blood."

Treats like chocolate and crisps are also now on the menu for the youngster.

Alice had to undergo arduous dialysis treatment to clean her blood 10 hours a day until she was three.

For the next four years she had to travel from Hartlepool to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary three days a week, while waiting for news of a possible donor.

Since getting her new kidney, Doctor Who fan Alice has learned to ride a bike, started swimming and been able to enjoy breaks away from home – and hospital – with her family.

She tucked into turkey and all the trimmings at her granddad Terry Andrews's home and enjoyed time with her presents without having to make the trek up to Newcastle.

Salesman George, of Templeton Close, Clavering, added: "We are making sure she has the best Christmas she can.

"It is the first time she has been able to do what she wants, when she wants."

It has been a whirlwind year for the whole family including mum Nicola Andrews, 38, and big sister Lucy Andrews, 19, since getting the phone call they had all been waiting for on April 4.

They faced an anxious few days after Alice underwent the five-hour operation.

But four days later her new kidney started to work and she was soon home and back at Clavering Primary School.

George added: "Kids with chickenpox are off longer than Alice was with a kidney transplant.

"She has come on leaps and bounds.

"The biggest thing for her is being able to go to school five days a week instead of just two when she was on dialysis."

Alice will have to take drugs for the rest of her life to prevent her body rejecting her kidney. But the family agree it is a small price to pay.