BRAVE Frankie Haddow's proud mum admitted she shed tears of pride as he defied the odds to walk into his first day at primary school.

The plucky Rosyth youngster joined his fellow Primary 1 pupils for the start of the new school term at Camdean Primary last week and, watched by his thrilled family, achieved his ambition of stepping into the classroom on foot.

Thrilled mum Nicola said that watching five-year-old Frankie walk into the playground with the aid of sticks was something she "never thought he'd be strong enough" to do.

But, thanks to her amazing little boy's determination and fundraising efforts from family, friends and the West Fife community, he did it.

Frankie was a happy, healthy little boy when he was suddenly taken ill just before his second birthday on January 7 2013 and an MRI scan revealed he had swelling on the brain and lesions on his spinal cord.

He was diagnosed with Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, a virus that attacks the spinal cord and central nervous system and left him paralysed from the neck down for two weeks.

A gruelling weekly routine of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy began as a long recovery process got under way and fundraising efforts from friends, family and the community enabled him to receive physio sessions at the Craighalbert Centre in Cumbernauld. The centre provides educational and therapy services for children and young people throughout Scotland suffering from cerebral palsy and similar neurological conditions.

Nicola, of The Byres, said: "Our aim was to achieve walking into Primary one but I never thought he would be strong enough. Three years ago, he couldn't use his hands and he still has damage to his spinal cord; his muscles are shortening and he may need future surgery to his feet and legs. This is really to show everyone where their fundraising has gone; without it, he wouldn't be where he is now.

"All of us were in bits and I cried very proud tears! I never thought I would get to see it but he is such a determined wee boy. He was very excited and his big brother was a real help too!

"He fell asleep at lunch on his first morning because he was so tired but he's loving it. He's got his wee group from nursery looking after him and they don't see his walker, they just see him as Frankie."

She continued: "He goes to the Craighalbert Centre four times a year and he gets hydrotherapy, hippotherapy and rebound therapy to help control his upper body. He's in theatre every six months but he just gets on with it with a smile every day. He always pushes himself and he plays frame football with Partick Thistle every second Sunday.

"His determination and character has played a key role in his recovery and he has achieved a huge goal. It can be quite lonely without him though because he's good company!

"This is a thank you for all the help we've had and it's nice for us to share with them where we are now. It's quite overwhelming."