A CHARD youngster is recovering from yet another operation in a bid to help him walk properly.

Jason Inchley, 11, who was adopted just over five years ago with his brother Liam, nine, has Cerebral Palsy and has been in and out of hospital most of his life.

Having this condition meant the muscles in Jason's legs were stiff and permanently contracting, so he had trouble walking properly and tended to walk on his tiptoes.

His latest operation took place at Taunton Musgrove Park Hospital in May and included surgeons opening up Jason's ankles and inserting bone taken from his hip.

This is held in place by wires until the graft takes, to put the arches back into his feet.

Jason's adoptive mum, Heather, said: "Jason was off school for less than two weeks.

"He now has another three weeks in a wheelchair, and then hopefully he can start to weight bear and we can start him on crutches."

Jason is no stranger to hospitals and underwent a major heart operation nearly two years ago at Bristol Children's Hospital to replace one of the valves in his heart.

Although the operation was a success at the time, Jason will have to undergo at least one other procedure, as his valve is still not working properly.

Jason is an active youngster, enjoying cricket, horse riding and football.

Dad James said: "He is quite a brave person. He seems to have a high pain threshold and just gets on with things really.

"Nothing stops him - he's even been known to play football and ride his bike even with his legs in plaster!"

Since his adoption, Jason has lived with Liam, Heather and James in Chard, and enjoyed a new start to his life.

He said: "I'd never been abroad before and now we've been to Turkey, Crete and Florida.

"I'm looking forward to being out of the chair and playing cricket again."