Battling girl meets TV idol; FAMILY: Sick youngster charms musical hero Peter Andre.

Byline: Matt Lloyd

A BLACK Country girl suffering from a life-threatening illness has met her all time hero Peter Andre and is to star on his TV show to be aired tomorrow night.

Jessica Beresford, aged five, from Dudley, suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

And she got more than she could have ever hoped for when she went on a special trip to London yesterday.

Whisked from the West Midlands to the Radisson SAS Hotel in the centre of the capital, she was then taken by a stretched pink limousine to meet music and TV star Peter at the Crazy Bear Club in Convent Garden.

And to her shock and delight she ended up being filmed alongside her idol for tomorrow's edition of his show, Peter Andre: The Next Chapter.

Production company CanTV had moved the show's schedule so she could take part in the recording.

Organised by the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, brave Jessica couldn't believe her dream had come true. She said: "I can't believe I just met Peter.Mummy - did that just happen?" Her mother Debbie Hickman said the delighted little girl would never forget the meeting.

"This has been the best day ever for Jessica, she loves Peter and this day will stay with us forever," she added.

Jessica, who is said to become "very happy and calm" when she watches the star on television, was later treated to a meal at The Rainforest Cafe in Piccadilly Circus, along with her parents.

Andre praised the youngster's courage and added: "Jessica is a lovely little girl and she just has to keep smiling for her mum and dad. I am so pleased to have met her today, she is a very brave little girl."

Jessica will appear with Andre *on the programme tomorrow night at 9pmon ITV2.

CAPTION(S):

Stuff of dreams: Brave Jessica Beresford, five, meets her hero Peter Andre.