A mother who donated part of her liver to her son in a pioneering transplant has spoken of his battle to live.

Luke Bettelley, three, was given parts of his mother Jill's liver in a 13-hour operation two years ago.

These days Luke behaves like any normal three-year-old as he runs around the family home in Arundel Road, Worthing.

But it has not all been plain sailing for the youngster, who is still recovering from a health scare at the New Year.

Mrs Bettelley said "Luke has regular blood tests and checks and they discovered that his bile duct had become restricted."

He had an operation to repair it but a biopsy later revealed Luke's liver was starting to show signs of rejection.

Mrs Bettelley said: "It was a horrible and frightening time for all of us as he had seemed to be doing so well.

"You are always constantly worrying about him but when something like that happens all the memories of what he went through before come back again."

Doctors gave Luke high doses of steroids, a move which appears to have been successful.

Luke's ordeal began in 1999 when he was rushed to Worthing Hospital with suspected hepatitis.

He was transferred to Kings College where acute liver failure was diagnosed.

Both Mrs Bettelley, 34 and her husband David, 30, of Arundel Road, Worthing, offered parts of their own livers. Specialist agreed hers was the best match.

The surgery at Kings College Hospital in London was the UK's first transplant performed on an acute liver patient using the organ of a living relative.

The couple had been warned Luke could die within days if a donor was not found.

He now goes to Castle Day Nursery in East Worthing three afternoons a week and the Camelia Botnar Children's Centre three morning a week.

His mother said: "On the outside he is just like any normal toddler and you wouldn't know anything was wrong."

She added: "The nursery has been absolutely brilliant and he loves it there. They are all very good with him and he is enjoying himself very much.

"Because he is behind with his talking for his age he goes to the children's centre which specialises in helping children with speech difficulties."

If he continues to progress as well as he has been doing Luke is due to start school in April next year.

Mrs Bettelley said: "We are doing all right. Luke is getting better and we can breathe a sigh of relief again.

"It is still early days yet but another milestone has been passed. Luke is doing well and is happy and that is the most important thing."