AMELIA Weeks who is well on the road to recovery after knee surgery - rose to the occasion when she got her heart's desire to feed giraffes.

Dudley-based charity Wishing Well took on the tall order of arranging the giraffe feeding session for the 11-year-old, of Monument Avenue, Wollescote, Stourbridge, after she had her operation at Russells Hall Hospital.

The youngster was treated to a visit to the Cotswold Wildlife and Safari Park in Burford, Oxfordshire, where she met up with adolescents Century and Jake, who gobbled up the carrots she tempted them with from a 12ft high platform.

Steve Ford, who runs Wishing Well to make dreams come true for sick youngsters, met up with Amelia, her parents, Jim and Julie, and 14-year-old sister Hannah, at the park.

"She thought it was absolutely fantastic," said Mr Weeks.

"She was apprehensive and found the experience slightly overwhelming - but rose to the occasion."

Mr Weeks said giraffes had always been Amelia's favourite animal since she was tiny and she had previously seen them at Dudley Zoo and the West Midland Safari Park at Bewdley.

Mr Ford visited her on the children's ward at Russells Hall Hospital when she had her surgery last November, and asked her if there was anything she dreamed of doing - and she had no hesitation in replying that she would like to feed giraffes.

Amelia, a keen gymnast, needed the operation because she had problems with her knee dislocating.

She is now recovered and can even turn cartwheels after returning to gymnastics.

Giraffe keeper at the wildlife park, Alan Pringle, told her the animals normally ate tree branches but loved carrots as a treat.

Mr Weeks said: "The keeper also gave her other information about giraffes, which included that they are lovely - but a bit thick."