A woman who was paralysed when a sky-diving fall went wrong has ventured out of her Steeton home alone for the first time since the tragedy four years ago.

Penny Roberts has been given a new lease of life since receiving the state-of-the art electric chair from the disability fund Motability.

The 36-year-old qualified nurse, who gave birth to baby Peter six months ago and won a legal battle to bring him up, has been out in her small garden and journeyed the short distance to her doctors in the village.

"It's absolutely marvellous. I've managed to get out of the house on my own for the first time in four years. I've also been to the doctors to collect my own prescription,'' said Penny, who on Saturday features in a Channel 4 documentary about her legal battle for custody of Peter.

"In the house I can now go upstairs in the chair, in the lift, on my own. I can get round all the radiators collecting the washing. It sounds insignificant but I haven't done anything like that in four years."

Now she is looking forward to receiving a specially adapted Ford Transit van later this summer which will accommodate her wheelchair.

It means she will be able to drive on her own and get out into town to do her own shopping.

"Last year was very depressing. This year is looking much rosier and I have a beautiful baby as well. I couldn't ask for anything better,'' added Penny.

Last year she fought and won a legal battle to keep custody of Peter despite Bradford Council wanting to take him into care, fearing she couldn't cope.

Penny, who is paralysed from the waist down and has limited mobility in her arms, was awarded custody of her son and now looks after him at her specially adapted terraced home with full- time helpers.

The Channel 4 programme Penny's Baby, being shown at 7.30pm, traces her battle from July to September last year.

"I think it's an accurate documentary. It's not flattering. I look haggard and tired but that is not the issue. It was an accurate record of how I was during that period of fighting for Peter,'' she added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.