A brave little girl who suffered a brain injury when she was born 12 weeks early needs surgery to revolutionise her life.

Great Bradfords Infant School pupil Summer Andrews, six, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months and has limited mobility.

Her family need to raise £50,000 to pay for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy procedure, a potentially life-changing piece of surgery which will aid her movement and help her walk unaided with greater ease.

Mum Kiri Andrews said: “At the moment her condition hinders her ability to carry out day to day things which someone of her age should be able to do.

“It holds her back and this is where the procedure will be life-changing for her because it will help to give her more freedom.”

The procedure, which would take place at Great Ormond Street Hospital, will release some of the stiffness in Summer’s muscles, and make it easier for her to move her hips, knees and ankles.

Mrs Andrews, 31, said: “It is not just about releasing the tension in her muscles, it is about taking away the need for future surgeries as well.

“Without the surgery, she could end up in the a wheelchair permanently.”

Despite experiencing medical problems throughout her short life, Mrs Andrews said Summer is a playful and loving child, who loves spending time with identical twin Phoebe and brothers Ben, ten, and Jack, seven.

“She would have good reason to be frustrated with life but she tends to be very focused and happy,” she said.

“Now she is getting a bit older she sees she is a bit different from her classmates and it is coming out a little bit more.

“She really has come on leaps and bounds in the last 18 months to have been accepted for this surgery.”

Charity Just 4 Children are hoping to help Mrs Andrews and husband Lloyd, 32, who live in Braintree, raise the funds to pay for the operation and the associated after care.

Mrs Andrews said: “The procedure itself is £27,000 but they advise to raise around £50,000 in total to pay for physiotherapy costs as well.

“The therapy afterwards is as important as the procedure itself.

“We have done some fundraising before but never anything like this - it is quite daunting.

“We are hoping to get some events organised to help raise the money.”

To donate to Summer’s appeal, visit http://bit.ly/2sud0Fy.