Ref. 74405-11A SPECIAL treat has helped put the smile back on the face of eight-year-old Harry Ward after an operation to straighten his legs.

The football mad youngster, of Bardsey Close, Wootton Bassett, is recovering at home after the gruelling surgery at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

Harry has already enjoyed a visit from Swindon Town star Sam Parkin, but thanks to the Evening Advertiser, he mingled with other players before the Robins' match against Colchester United on Saturday.

"Swindon is my favourite team so it was fantastic to meet the players rather than just see them on the TV," said the Noremarsh Junior School pupil.

"It was a dream come true and put a smile back on my face."

Just before Christmas doctors had to break both his legs at the ankles and rotate his legs through 40 degrees before securing his realigned bones with metal plates and fixing his heels with pins.

In December this bravery was rewarded when Parkin visited his home with a big bag of chocolates and signed his Swindon Town coloured, fibreglass cast.

Harry's mum Julie, 31, said the visit to the County Ground with his dad Philip, 33, and brother Ben, five, on New Year's Day gave her son a further boost.

The successful operation was carried out to correct Harry's feet, which turned inwards, and his legs that turned outwards.

It will allow the keen sportsman to be quicker at running and will stop him from being prone to tripping.

Harry, who also has a younger sister Kate, aged one, has to spend several more weeks in a wheelchair while his legs repair.

He will then be moved into walking plasters although doctors don't expect him to walk unaided for another six months.

Harry, who enjoys playing football, golf and swimming, is now aiming to get fit again for the start of the hockey season in September.

"He's doing remarkably well," said Mrs Ward. "He has been down and wishes it never happened but all in all he's getting around fantastically in his wheelchair.

"It took him a little while to get used to it and I think we will need to do some re-painting of skirting boards when it's all finished.

"It will be fantastic to see him up and running again."