Brave Ellie May Challis has won her battle to get physiotherapy on the NHS.

The two-year-old toddler lost her arms and legs to meningitis, but received new £20,000 artificial limbs thanks to the generosity of people from Basildon and across Europe.

When Havering PCT found out the Rainham-based family had bought new legs and an arm privately from a specialist limb company in Dorset, it stopped funding physiotherapy treatment.

But the trust has now been forced to make a U-turn following a public outcry and will be paying for Ellie's therapeutic support and rehabilitation after all.

Ellie's mother Lisa, 33, said: "It was public pressure which made them change their minds.

Having proper legs with knees has changed Ellie May's life. But physio is vital too because she has to be taught to use them - she is still only two.

"She loves the legs and scoots around on them. It is brilliant that now she has knees.

"When her legs are on she says, big again'. This is her way of saying that she is the same size as here twin sister, Sophie."

A total of £400,000 has been raised for Ellie so far.

But with the limbs costing between £4,000 and £7,000 each, and needing to be replaced up to three times a year because Ellie's body is growing, all the cash will be needed.

Ellie's great aunt, Pat Millbank, 55, of First Avenue, Westcliff, said: "Ellie is doing brilliantly. She has to use her little frame.

"The irony of this fuss was that the family were actually saving the NHS a fortune. Each limb can cost up to £7,000."