The bubbly 11-year-old is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant and, in the meantime, needs to be hooked up to a machine to keep her body functioning normally.

But this Tuesday, the Whittlesey girl was given special dispensation by doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital to swap her dialysis day – because she had a once-in-a-lifetime audience with a constellation of EastEnders stars.

The national Rays of Sunshine Children's charity makes the wishes of terminally and seriously ill children come true and, after hearing Siobhan's story, its bosses were moved by her courage.

A few months after the renowned children's hospital where she has spent a large chunk of her life put her forward, she got the news that her wish – a trip to the fictional London suburb of Walford where the hit BBC soap is set – had been granted.

And not only did she get to hang out with the actors who play Ricky Butcher, Mickey and Keith Miller and Patrick Trueman, she also enjoyed a peek behind the scenes at the Queen Vic pub, got served at the Minute Mart cornershop and rifled through the bargains on Stacey Slater's market stall.

If that wasn't enough, Siobhan, her mum Sally (43) and sister Sinead (6), of Quinion Close, Whittlesey, were whisked to and from their hotel by limousine and given VIP treatment.

Siobhan, whose feet haven't touched the ground since her special day, said: "It was really good and not what I was expecting at all.

"I thought the houses would be real but, when I touched them, they were rubbery.

"I met Ricky Butcher, Mickey Miller who was really funny, Keith Miller and Patrick Trueman.

"Mickey chatted to me about what had happened to me. I enjoyed all of it. EastEnders is my favourite television programme."

Sally said: "Rays of Sunshine organised it all. We were given a form to fill in via Great Ormond Street Hospital and Siobhan had to fill in three wishes – one of which they try to grant.

"A stretch limo collected us from the hotel and took us to the EastEnders set in Elstree.

"I really enjoyed it – I'm a big EastEnders fan."

Siobhan's dad Ernie (58) is currently being tested to see if he is a suitable transplant match for his daughter after a medical condition from which he has now recovered prevented any earlier tests.