WE DID it! Thanks to the generosity of Daily Echo readers and the fund-raising efforts of two marathon walkers, little Sophie Sivess has toes that look and feel real.

The four-year-old had to have her leg amputated just below the knee and the toes on the other foot amputated after contracting blood poisoning through a chicken-pox spot.

Her parents described the standard NHS prosthesis as "like a wooden leg" and Sophie longed for more realistic limbs and to be able to have a toenail-painting party with sister Francesca, five.

A massive £12,000 was raised in total through our Walking for Sophie Campaign and in sponsorship for Glyn Foulger and Sandra Gleeson's efforts and now Sophie's new prostheses have arrived.

Her mother Elly said: "Sophie is very impressed with her new prostheses - they look just like real, you have to see it to believe it. She is a very confident child anyway but having 10 toes like her sister and all her friends has made all the difference." The prosthetic foot was made using a cast of Francesca's foot, and Elly joked: "It looks just like Francesca's foot but it doesn't smell like it."

The new foot cost around £2,500 and the prosthetic leg was around £3,000. Sophie is currently walking with the help of a frame because her bones have been left weakened by the blood poisoning.

And as her body continues to grow she will need new, larger, prostheses.

In a letter to those who supported the appeal Elly wrote: "Sophie and her family would like to say a great big 'thank you' for the words of support and encouragement and to all those who sponsored the walk and donated money to Walking for Sophie.

"Money donated means Sophie can get the best available and reach the places that the NHS can't reach.

"It will give her a new lease of life and hopefully get her back on her feet."

And she thanked the hospitals in Southampton and Salisbury who she said saved Sophie's life.

First published: October 27