AS fragile as a butterfly’s wing but with the courage and heart of a lion.

This is the way 11-year-old ‘butterfly girl’, Melissa Hughes, will be remembered by family and friends after she lost her battle with the rare skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) on Thursday, January 3.

Melissa, from Hazel Grove, was the first "cotton wool kid" to be born in Stockport for 30 years and fought bravely with the agonising condition which caused her delicate skin to blister and weep.

She spent every morning being bandaged before school, which she accepted with a smile, but despite the pain of every day life managed to find hope through her work with other sufferers.

Her heartbroken mother Gillian, step-father Danny and younger brother Ayden, said they can’t begin to describe the void that has been left by their little angel.

It was her resilient spirit, said her mum, her work as the north’s leading patron for EB charity DebRA, and the way she just got on with things that made Melissa a shining example to her family and peers.

Recognition came when she was awarded the Woman’s Own International Child of Courage Award in 2003.

She was invited to attend a star-studded bash at Downing Street, and according to her mum, was gobsmacked when her favourite boy band Blue turned up to serenade her with her favourite song 'One Love'.

Tony Eckersall, fundraising manager for DebRA in the North, says he has lost one of his dearest friends but feels privileged to have been part of the music-loving youngsters life.

"She was an inspiration to everybody, especially me," said Tony.

"She was an adorable little girl who loved music and dancing, who had a beautiful smile and never complained about her illness - she was a trooper. It's been a pleasure to have known her and I'm just glad I have some special memories of her to carry with me."

As a massive Manchester United fan, Tony would often take Melissa to the games, which he says was always a delight.

He recalled: "The last game we went to see was against Everton and she was like the cat that got the cream when United won - her face just lit up the room. It was this cheekiness, her innocence and the inner knowledge she possessed that made her so unique and so precious to all who knew her."

Melissa was a keen student and was a pupil at Moorfield Primary School before joining Werneth High School in September.

David Phillips, headteacher at Moorfield, said Melissa would be remembered for inspiring the schools Inclusive Quality Mark Award.

He said: "She was a bright, intelligent young lady with a wicked sense of humour and she made friends easily among children and staff.

"I am certain that a large part of our award success last year should be attributed to Melissa who taught us how to work, adapt, and help enable that every child here has the best possible experience at school."

Her family have thanked everyone in Stockport for their tributes and support, particularly her friends at Stockport County and Manchester United who helped the DebRA patron raise thousands for the charity.

Melissa’s grandfather Ged Boulton said the family would like all those who knew Melissa to join them at the funeral tomorrow and for football fans to wear their shirts in her honour.

Ged said: "The people of Stockport have been wonderful over the years. She brought a lot of joy and happiness to the people she met and was equally touched when she met other poorly children. It would be a fitting tribute to her memory if people could wear their shirts."

The family have also confirmed that any donations made in her memory will be split between Francis House and DebRA.

Tony added: "We have had a lot of people ask if they could send donations in her memory which is just such a beautiful recognition of her life. Donations should be sent to Gillian Hughes, 32 Celtic Street, Offerton, SK1 4TQ."

The funeral service will be held at Norbury Church, London Road, in Hazel Grove tomorrow, Thursday, January 10, at 9.45am. All welcome. For further information call Tony on 07786 575512.