LIVEWIRE Emma Standish was showing encouraging signs of recovery today after being given a life-saving heart transplant at the weekend.

Emma, aged 10, from Farnworth, Bolton, was ''stable'' in Newcastle-on-Tyne where she had the operation with less than 72 hours to live.

As her parents Deborah and Darren kept a bedside vigil, family members told of their gratitude to the mystery donor whose death has given Emma life.

Emma's grandfather Allan Cartwright said: ''We are all grateful to whoever it is, whoever carried that card. They have given Emma a real chance. Now we are waiting to see what will happen.''

Emma, was hit by a virus which swelled her heart muscles. A spokesman at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital said 48 hours will tell whether her body rejects the new heart.

Mr Cartwright said his daughter Deborah had rung to tell him the new heart had been found on Friday morning. ''She sounded upset,'' he said. It was a shock''.

Emma's great-aunt, Janet Standish, said: ''We know that someone had to die for her to have the heart and that is very sad, but if it can give Emma a chance of life we would be so overjoyed. We would want to thank that family, who must be going through hell.''

Emma's brothers - twins Adam and Christopher, 15, - are staying with relatives.