A youngster who had her legs amputated after contracting meningitis has battled against the odds to take her first steps.

Nine months ago Danielle Skilbeck was in a critical condition and doctors at St James's Hospital were forced to amputate the lower half of her arms and legs.

Now she has learnt to walk again using prosthetic legs.

Until recently the Otley five-year-old needed supporting when she used them, but now her mum Lindsay Pollard said that when she starts she can't stop.

"Her only problem now is stopping," she said.

"Because the knee joints don't lock, when she starts walking she just keeps going and she now has to learn how to stop. She is walking on the legs on her own and sometimes needs help.

"She is getting better with them, she likes to wear them now, which is great.

"She used to get upset at first. She is still learning how to operate them and is going to monthly clinics to practice using the legs.

"She has them on all the time at home. She gets a lot of support from people at the hospital. "I am really proud of her, she has done really well."

For Danielle it means she has got her freedom back.

The youngster is working hard to learn how to use the legs and soon she will be able to wear them for school.

She has been attending regular physiotherapy sessions to learn how to walk again using her new legs.

Danielle had to have the lower half of her legs and arms amputated after contracting meningococcal septicaemia