LITTLE Raygan Cornwell loves to prove doctors wrong.

The parents of the feisty seven-year-old were told that she would never walk when she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months.

But since then the St Joseph's Primary School pupil not only walks, with the aid of callipers, but likes to ride around on a tricycle.

And her latest triumph was kicking off a charity football tournament to raise funds to buy her a new bike as she has outgrown her old one.

Raygan's proud mother, Lyndsey, said: "She is absolutely fabulous. Just like any other seven-year-old she loves playing with her friends and being outdoors.

"She'd rather be fundraising than sitting inside feeling sorry for herself."

The youngster, of Kenilworth Square, Heaton, already has a specially adapted tricycle, but has outgrown it and needs a replacement, so a football tournament was organised at the Bolton Arena at the weekend to raise the £800 needed to buy her a new one.

Her fundraising efforts do not end there. Raygan, who has a brother Rhys, aged two, has also collected money for her school by taking part in a sponsored tricycle ride and skip.

Mrs Cornwell said: "Raygan very rarely uses her wheelchair, only when absolutely necessary, she's a real go-getter."

Raygan was born seven weeks prematurely and her parents, Lyndsey and David, had some concerns about her development.

But it was not until she was 18 months old that doctors diagnosed her as having cerebral palsy.

The initial prognosis was bleak with Lyndsey and David being told that their little girl would never walk - but she defied the odds and strides around with just callipers attached to her legs for support.