A little boy who suffers from cerebral palsy has been able to wiggle his toes for the first time after pioneering new surgery.

Five-year-old Oliver Poinsignon had his operation after Argus readers helped to raise more than £48,000 for the operation.

The youngster lives in Ashurst, near Steyning, with his mum Julie Langmaid.

His condition makes it difficult for him to walk, jump and run because of extremely tight and painful muscles in his legs.

Ms Langmaid said: “It was incredibly nerve-racking waiting for news but it all went well.

“He is still a bit groggy from all the morphine but he is doing fine.

“He has been able to wiggle his toes for the first time and keeps telling me his legs feel like jelly – which is a good thing.”

The operation, called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), is relatively new and not available on the NHS.

It could therefore only be given the go-ahead once funding had been secured.

The five-year-old had his operation from 8.30am on Friday right through to nearly 4.30pm.

Ms Langmaid explained how surgeons at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital operated on his spine before finding the faulty nerves which were affecting his lower body movement.

Once they had been discovered, they cut them, therefore permanently removing the spasticity.

The surgery comes following a huge public campaign to raise the £52,000 needed to fund the procedure and resulting physiotherapy.

The campaign was backed by The Argus last year, with the paper’s charity, The Argus Appeal, donating £5,000.

Oliver’s dad, Jean Marc Poinsignon, who lives in Brighton, has also been instrumental in the fundraising.

However, little Ollie’s ordeal isn’t over yet as he faces the rest of February in hospital, with intense physiotherapy to build up his strength and movement.

He will then need specialist physiotherapy for many more months and years.

Ms Langmaid added: “I would like to thank everybody who has helped us so far.

“However, this isn’t the end. Oliver is going to need a lot more physiotherapy and that’s why we need to continue to raise money.”

Anyone interested in making a donation can contact the campaign via Facebook SDR4Oliver or visit www.justgiving.com/SDR4Oliver.