A MOTHER has welcomed a landmark ruling that will allow her to create a designer baby in Britain in a bid to save her son's life.

Although the decision has led to outrage from pro-life campaigners, mother Denise Kelly said the judgment was an emotional victory.

She said it gave her renewed hope of prolonging the life of little Nathan, her three-year-old son who is suffering from the rare genetic disorder, Fanconi's Anaemia.

British fertility clinics will be able to screen IVF embryos to ensure a new-born baby will be a genetic match for an ill child. The landmark decision was made by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which was ruling over a case involving Shahana and Raj Hashmi and their son Zalin, who has the rare blood disorder, beta thalassaemia major.

The work would be undertaken by consultant Simon Fischel at the Park Hospital in Arnold, Nottingham.

In Miss Kelly's case, stem cells from her future baby's umbilical cord would be manipulated to form healthy red blood cells to be infused into Nathan.

Miss Kelly, aged 31, of Marion Street, Great Lever, said: "The decision is great news. We've been told Nathan will only live until he is 12 years old and even that's an optimistic figure.

"If we underwent this treatment it would more than double Nathan's lifespan and, if needed, buy us some time to find a cure."

So far Miss Kelly has raised £50,000 via the Bolton Evening News-backed Nathan Howarth Appeal.