A twelve year old schoolboy from Weston is closer than ever to walking for the first time, thanks to a donation of thirty-eight thousand pounds towards pioneering surgery in the US.

Michael McKenzie was born with his right hip and knee joints fused together, and has already undergone nineteen operations to lengthen his leg.

The moeny has come from the Axentis Michael Charitable Trust, set up in memory of their father by Grand Pier owners Kerry and Michelle Michael.