A cancerous brain tumour couldn’t stop a Wishaw woman travelling 10,000 miles to surprise her childhood friend.

Despite her condition, and still recovering from brain surgery, Alexandria Souter, 46, flew to Perth, Australia, to visit life-long pal Tracey Anderson who emigrated down under six years ago.

Mum-of-four Alexandria turned up unexpected to Tracey’s family home on May 27.

She hid behind a Saltire before jumping out give her emotional, and very surprised, friend a massive hug.

The moment Alexandria Souter and Tracey Anderson met in Perth, Australia

Alexandria, who was diagnosed with a stage three brain tumour in February 2018, said the reunion was everything she hoped it would be.

She added: “Tracey was absolutely shocked and couldn’t understand the fact that I was at her front door as I stay in Scotland.

“She told me she always wanted someone to chap her door and ask for her as no one ever does. She’s very homesick even after all these years. We were both very emotional. It was so lovely.”

After her shock cancer diagnosis last year, Alexandria decided life is too short to put things on hold and booked a holiday to Oz with her partner Stuart McDonald.

Since being told she has a six centimetre tumour on her brain, Alexandria has undergone major surgery, as well as several rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She added: “My outlook on life has completely changed. I don’t want to put things on hold or regret not doing or going where I’ve always wanted to go. I’ve got four kids and have always put them first.

“However, after everything that has happened recently, I decided it’s about time I did something for me.

“My kids completely understand and were so supportive of my decision to go to Australia.”

The couple travelled to Adelaide first to stay with Stuart’s family, before flying to Perth for the big reunion.

Alexandria and Tracey have been friends since they were toddlers. The girls lived two doors apart from each other on Stonecraig Road.

Alexandria and Tracey

As they grew up they drifted apart and didn’t see each other as much as they used to.

Alexandria added: “Even when Tracey was at home, it didn’t matter how
long it had been since we last seen each other, we just picked up from where we had left off. She will always be my best friend.”

Tracey’s son Robbie has made his mark down under since leaving Wishaw.

He wowed the judges on The Voice Kids Australia in 2014.

The confident youngster moved the judges, Spice Girl Mel B and singer Delta Goodrem, to tears after telling them how he struggled to leave his ‘papi’ behind when emigrated.