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A MUM has spoken of her joy after finding footage of her daughter playing with school friends - 37 YEARS after she died.

June Jones, 78, said it was a Mother's Day miracle after her son came across the heart-wrenching video of her six-year-old daughter Kerry by chance.

 Kerry, 6, is shown playing happily with friends in playground footage unearthed 37 years after she died
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Kerry, 6, is shown playing happily with friends in playground footage unearthed 37 years after she diedCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 Kerry's mum June has described the discovery of the clip as a Mother's Day miracle
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Kerry's mum June has described the discovery of the clip as a Mother's Day miracleCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 June Jones, 78, told how she was overcome with emotion after seeing the clip of her little girl
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June Jones, 78, told how she was overcome with emotion after seeing the clip of her little girlCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The grainy clip from 1978 shows the youngster skipping in the playground and disappearing over a hill as she happily plays with classmates.

But just two years after the footage was filmed at Wilnecote Junior School, in Tamworth, Staffs, Kerry tragically died of a brain tumour, aged eight.

Today June said she was overcome with emotion after seeing her little girl's face again - almost four decades after her death.

Fighting back tears, she added: "When I first saw her l just started crying - it really hit me hard. I kept saying, 'That's my little girl, that's my little girl'.

"I actually can't believe I got to see her again, especially when she looked so happy with her friends.

"My son's friend had shared it on Facebook - it was just a complete coincidence that he watched it and managed to recognise his little sister.

"Being so close to Mother's Day, it couldn't have happened at a more perfect time - it was fate.

"My precious little girl wanted me to know she was still here.

"It's a Mother's Day miracle. I think that's why it happened. It's the best gift ever.

''I can't believe the footage is online. l'm just so thankful that someone managed to capture this footage -they have made me so happy."

 Tragic Kerry Jones died from a brain tumour two years after the footage was taken in 1978
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Tragic Kerry Jones died from a brain tumour two years after the footage was taken in 1978Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
 June described the discovery coming so close to Mother's Day as 'fate'
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June described the discovery coming so close to Mother's Day as 'fate'Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

Kerry passed away on June 17, 1980 after she was left hospitalised from a brain tumour doctors had dismissed as growing pains.

June, who has five other children Lynne, 56, Mandy, 52, Darren, 50, David, 47, and Carol 48, added: "I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

"It was truly awful. She had been complaining of headaches for around four weeks but doctors thought it was growing pains and gave her junior disprin.

"One night she came into our bedroom in agony, saying, 'Mummy my head really hurts.'

 Kerry seems not to have a care in the footage but just two years later she died from a brain tumour
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Kerry seems not to have a care in the footage but just two years later she died from a brain tumourCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 Kerry's brother Darren told how he could hardly believe what he had discovered
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Kerry's brother Darren told how he could hardly believe what he had discoveredCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

"She was rushed to hospital the next day and they operated but sadly nothing could be done to save her.

"We were heartbroken so this footage just provides me with happy memories.

"I shed a tear every time I watch it - but they are happy tears."

June's son Darren, who found the footage titled The Wilnecote Schools 1978 on YouTube earlier this week, added: "When I saw it I couldn't believe it. At first I didn't want to believe what I saw."


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