Bouncing back to happiness

LITTLE battler Ellie Challis has a real spring in her step — after becoming the youngest person ever fitted with bouncy flex-foot artificial legs.

The five year old — who lost her limbs in 2005 when she almost died from meningitis — had the £10,000 carbon frames specially made.

They are the same type as the legs used by disabled athlete Oscar Pistorius and wounded Marines hero Ben McBean, with a C-shaped foot for added bounce.

Ellie first touched the hearts of Sun readers in 2006 when she was pictured taking her first steps on artificial limbs.

Boss Bob Watts custom-built a pair of the flex-foot legs, which had never before been given to a child so young.

And within seconds of having the limbs fitted Ellie was running around laughing.