HUNDREDS of people attended a ceremony to open a roundabout that has been installed in a park in memory of a little girl from Sale.

The roundabout was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event held at Moor Nook Park on Saturday - which would have been Phoebe Casson's fifth birthday.

The fun-loving little girl died suddenly on September 17 from a rare genetic condition called LPIN1.

Those attending the opening event included family friend and TV star Ashley Jensen, best known for Extras, and leader of the council, Sean Anstee.

The cost of the roundabout was covered by a crowdfunding appeal launched by Phoebe's parents, Claire and Ralph, which raised £12,000.

Claire said of the day: "It was a great success.

"My emotions on the day were mixed. I was touched to see so many faces. It was a pleasure to see so many happy children. It was just as I had hoped it would be, both Ralph and I agreed it couldn’t have gone better.

"However as you can imagine, Saturday would have been Phoebe’s fifth birthday, so while we were delighted with the day, while we are proud of what we and the community have achieved, at the bottom of it all we miss our girl."

The fun-loving little girl enjoyed going to Moor Nook Park in Sale, near her home, and when a run-down roundabout was removed, she wanted to know when it would be replaced.

So, after her death, her parents launched a crowdfunding appeal to buy a new roundabout for the Norris Road park as a tribute to her.

There was a massive response to the appeal.

Ashley Jensen and Cllr Anstee cut the ribbons to open the ride, and a choir from Stagecoach Didsbury - where Phoebe attended - sang.

Claire added: "The roundabout is a fitting tribute, though, and her name is there on it for all to see in a poem her daddy wrote."

Phoebe first became ill when she was 17-months-old and when she was two she was diagnosed with the rare condition LPIN1, which affects 1 in 100,000 people.

But, except for periods when she had had episodes of it, she was a very active little girl.

As well as Stagecoach in Didsbury she went to Stalder Dance Academy in Sale, where she had taken part in shows. She also enjoyed swimming and gymnastics.

She attended Sale Private Day Nursery on Derbyshire Road South, Sale, and had just started at Lime Tree Primary Academy, Budworth Rd, Sale.