Reaching ten is a milestone for every little boy or girl, being the first of the landmark birthdays.

For parents it is a chance to look back and wonder where that decade went, while their child is left to open presents and celebrate with a party.

Six months ago such commonplace joys suddenly seemed a long way off for Rachel Pickard after she was knocked down on a pelican crossing in York.

The Osbaldwick youngster almost lost her life following the accident in Hull Road, and her parents faced many desperately worrying months until her recovery was assured.

Rachel is now fit and well, though she still suffers recurrent bouts of infection because her spleen was removed following the accident.

Today, all the heartache of the last six months can be forgotten for now as Rachel enjoys her tenth party.

The young Abba fan had little difficulty in deciding what to wear for her fancy dress party today and dressed as Agnetha, one of the singers from the Swedish pop group.

And as this little Dancing Queen enjoys her party, we can be sure that her parents will be moved to shed a tear.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.