CHRISTMAS came early for a nine-year-old girl with a rare heart condition after Santa and his elves stopped by her home in Caerwent.

Amelia Hine has a congenital heart disease known Tricuspid Atresia which means she was born with only half a working heart as the right side hadn't formed properly.

She has had two major operations when she was around six-months-old and the second before her fourth birthday.

The Shirenewton Primary School pupil has to take warfarin daily and is on two other heart medications.

Her family say Amelia may has to have a pacemaker at some point unless scientists come up with something artificial.

They said currently there is no cure and Amelia will have to have a heart transplant in the future.

The family set up their own charity in her name, Amelia Matters, to help raise money towards research into rare heart conditions.

Members of Chepstow Round Table along with Santa and his sleigh stopped by the Hine's family home on Friday with presents for all family members including mother Lisa and father Paul. The group heard about the Hine family and decided to refer them to the Round Table Children's Wish – Biggest Wish.

The family were due to go with other families with children who have life threatening illnesses on an all-expenses paid trip to Drayton Manor Park in the summer as part of the RTCW's Biggest Wish, but were unable to go as Amelia was ill.

The Round Table members decided they wanted to do something special for the family and donated £200 to the RTCW who supplied Amelia with an ipad and accessories.

They also gave gifts for Amelia's siblings which includes Jonathan, 15, Phoebe, 6, who received a Frozen doll and Noah 3, received an Iron Man toy.

The children were also given selection boxes.

Mr Hine, Amelia's father, said: "They were all so excited only my wife and I knew. We told the children that a surprise was going to happen for them.

"Amelia was over the moon. She was very overwhelmed.

"They've been telling everyone about Santa coming to our house.

"Lisa and I were getting a little tearful at one point. It was very nice of the Round Table to think of her."

Mr Hine said Amelia loves her gift which will also be useful for educational apps when she has to miss school for hospital appointments.

For more information visit www.amelia-matters.org.uk/