A gymnast with hip problems which have set her back has never had a day off school.

Paige Wilkinson, 11, from Silver End, has one hip muscle shorter than the other.

It causes her to fall down and she cannot walk, but she has defied her problem by never having a day off school at Silver End Primary.

Paige, from Francis Court, has made her family proud with her 100 per cent attendance.

Her mum Caroline said: "Some mornings I get up and have imaginary headaches just because it's a Monday, but I think I have to go in as she sets an example.

"We didn't realise she had a problem until suddenly in Year 1 she lost the ability to walk.

"She had physio at Colchester Hospital- her hip muscle is shorter on one side and when it's cold her muscle contracts and she can't walk.

"Despite that she says she is going to school."

Years ago when her brother Leo, 8, was in a pushchair, she had a serious episode whilst on the school run.

Caroline said: "We had just passed the halfway point to school and she fell down and said she couldn't walk, she was determined to go to school so her brother toddled along next to her and she went in the pushchair."

She will be joining New Rickstones Academy in Witham in September, which her mum sees as a big step, but said Paige is excited.

Paige has also started up gymnastics, which helps her hip.

Her mum said: "I'm so incredibly proud of her- every Saturday she gives up her time to coach at the gym, she's quite an impressive kid.

"She loves school, she has lots of certificates for attendance and she gets so excited.

"It's a little challenge she sets herself. We have to be realistic as people do get ill but she doesn't do ill, she is dedicated.

"She used to have episodes quite a lot before she started gymnastics, it would just happen at random times- but the school has been really supportive."