A Westhoughton youngster has made remarkable progress after swimming with dolphins in Florida for the second time.

Adam Foulkes has just returned from the trip of a lifetime after travelling to Key Largo with his family for the treatment as well as enjoying a holiday at Disney World.

The 12-year-old, who was born with Down's Syndrome, benefited so much from his therapy sessions with the dolphins last year, that his mum worked hard to raise enough funds for a return trip this summer.

Mum Diana has been so amazed by her son's progress during the month-long trip to the States that she has booked him in for further treatment in September.

Adam, of Molyneux Road, Westhoughton, has shown marked improvement in his concentration levels and is taking much more of an interest in his surroundings.

Diana explained: "The therapists were absolutely brilliant with him.

"My ultimate aim is for him to speak and the speech therapists have urged me to massage Adam's face to keep the muscles moving.

"Adam used to just sit and make noises all the time, but now he sits and listens and looks around him.

"He loved being with the dolphins and since we came back he gets excited if we show him the photos and perked up when he saw dolphins in a film on television.

"In the past he would have found it hard to relate something in real life to an image on television.

"He likes walking a lot more now whereas in the past he would always be in his buggie.''

The mum-of-three arranged all sorts of fund-raising activities to collect the £4,000 needed to pay for the ten dolphin sessions as well as saving hard to pay for the family holiday for 16-year-old Kelli and Louis, aged seven.

The family are looking forward to returning next month, especially as they have been offered free accommodation.

Kelli will be taking part in a special educational programme to make sure she does not miss out on any schooling and Louis will be enrolled on the Sibling Programme which will allow him to get involved with the dolphin therapy.

Anyone who would like to organise a fund-raising event to help to pay for Adam's next session of treatment is urged to call Diana on 01942 790164.