“I WILL remember this for the rest of my life and I feel like I have had a very big early Christmas present.”

Those are the words of competition winner Sophie Fleming whose courage battling a severe form of chronic arthritis was rewarded on Friday with the prize of turning on the town's Christmas lights.

The brave 10-year-old from Bewsey took to the stage in front of thousands of shoppers for the switch-on alongside the stars of the hit Nick Jr TV show Go! Go! Go! and Britain’s Got Talent finalist dancers Pre-Skool.

Mum Naomi Fleming, who nominated her for the award, added: “It has been absolutely amazing and a very special night.

"The atmosphere has been incredible and the whole family was captivated.

“I am very proud of Sophie and it was wonderful to see her up there on stage.”

The Bewsey Lodge Primary School pupil was picked for the prize following a competition launched by Golden Square in conjunction with the Warrington Guardian to find a deserving youngster.

Her family said the One Direction fan has smiled her way through intensive treatment for a debilitating and painful joint inflammation disease which at times has resulted in her losing her hair, extreme vomiting, skin sores and dealing with the daily struggle of battling horrible pain in her knees and ankles.

She added: "I did feel a bit scared but also really excited and it was amazing to look out and see all the people there."

Warrington Wolves’ new signing Ashton Sims was also welcomed to the stage to show off the club’s new kit for 2015 alongside captain Ben Westwood.

Ian Cox, Golden Square centre director, said “It has been brilliant to see such a fantastic turnout and I want to thank our loyal shoppers for coming out in such great numbers to support our show and their town’s Christmas Lights Spectacular.”

Four runners-up also watched the show from the VIP area including Neve Boswell aged six, Tyler James Davies, aged 18 months, Harley McKean Owens, aged eight, and Olivia Micallef, aged four.