Night frights

[Nattie]

My dd is VERY frightened of the dark and won't be left in a room by herself - she has to be escorted everywhere, even to collect toys from her bedroom. She used to be excellent at going to sleep and staying in bed but she won't go to sleep by herself now. She also wakes up every night and comes into our bed and it's impossible to put her back as she is SO scared. She is 4 and a half years old.

She does have a vivid imagination.

This has only be happening since the evenings were lighter. The trouble is, she's not getting a full night's sleep and neither are we.

Any helpful hints? Please?

My dd has the bravest Cattie (stuffed cat) in the world who looks after her and makes sure that everything's OK, and at one point we put a very brave teddybear on guard outside her door. She also has a dreamcatcher which we have told her catches all the bad dreams and nasty thoughts and only lets the nice ones through, and that seems to have worked for her.