SCHOOLBOY Michael Browse has finally ditched his wheelchair and returned to school after months in hospital.12-year-old Michael, of Station Street, Ipswich, was born with club feet and a rare bone disease which crippled him but was only diagnosed years later.

By Tracey Sparling

SCHOOLBOY Michael Browse has finally ditched his wheelchair and returned to school after months in hospital.

12-year-old Michael, of Station Street, Ipswich, was born with club feet and a rare bone disease which crippled him but was only diagnosed years later.

Last year the Ipswich Town fan and Stoke High pupil underwent two operations to break both his hips, which had not developed properly.

The Evening Star arranged for him to meet his speedway and football heroes, and Ipswich Town presented him with two pairs of specially-made football boots. He also saw Cinderella at the New Wolsey Theatre with his family thanks to a gift of tickets from the cast.

When he needed an electric wheelchair on leaving hospital just before Christmas, Scootermart in Felixstowe lent him one for a month after seeing the appeal in the Star.

His mum Tracey Aldred said today: "Michael is very grateful for everything.

"He's back at school now, and is doing much better than I expected.

"He still uses a wheelchair for longer journeys into town, but on Tuesday he said he didn't need it for school any more, and started using his crutches.

"He is finding it hard but he's so glad to be back at school among his friends. He missed them so much and was getting very bored in hospital.

"He goes back for hydrotherapy every Friday, which is really helping to build up his leg muscles. "He's still not allowed to put all his weight on his right leg, and it'll be a very long time before he's playing football again.

"He'll have more x-rays done in March to check everything's healing as it should.