MENINGITIS victim Danielle Skilbeck is getting used to life in a wheelchair - but her mum hopes she will soon be walking.

Lindsay Pollard, from Otley, wants four-year-old Danielle to walk down the aisle as her bridesmaid at her wedding to fianc Chris Barker.

In her struggle against the life-threatening disease in July, Danielle lost both legs from her knees down and some of her fingers.

Her mum, Lindsay, 20, of Weston Park View, who has another child, Tia, two, and is expecting her third child in March, said: "We don't want her to get dependent on the wheelchair because it's not something she can use on her own.

"We want her to learn to walk again and we think giving her something like a battery operated wheelchair would make her lazy.

"With everything she's been through, it's not surprising she wants the easy way out."

Danielle has been fitted with prosthetic legs and has had several sessions with them at the prosthetic unit at Chapel Allerton Hospital.

"She took a few steps last week, aided, but it's a case of getting over the fear of falling. It could be months, or even years," said Lindsay.

Danielle goes to Ashfield Primary School for a few hours every week and also has a teacher who visits her at home.

Lindsay is now determined to raise enough money to buy realistic legs like those worn by Heather Mills, the wife of former Beatle Paul McCartney.