Walking tall: Seven-year-old meningitis boy who lost both his legs finally plays with his twin brother

For seven-year-old Edward Bright, his first outing on his new legs was much more important than that - it was a chance to go one up on his twin brother William.

Edward had his arms and legs amputated last year as doctors fought to save him from meningitis.

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And the fighting spirit which brought him back from a coma, plus a healthy dose of sibling rivalry, has seen him walking on his first set of prosthetic legs way ahead of schedule.

His mother Clare, 38, a medical secretary, said: "They have fulfilled his ambition to be taller than William. He asked the doctors to make his new legs long enough so that he is now about two inches taller."

She added: "When they were fitted the doctors thought it would be three months before he would learn to take his first steps. But within 48 hours he was up and walking on them. It brought tears to our eyes."

The family's nightmare began in February last year when Edward complained of a sore throat and sickness.

William had suffered from meningitis when he was 13 months and Mrs Bright knew the signs.

Edward was rushed to Derby City Hospital, where meningococcal meningitis with septicaemia was diagnosed.

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Mrs Bright said: "I was waiting for the doctors to reassure me he would be alright, like they had with William years ago, but no one said anything."

Later that evening Edward was put on a life-support machine. Doctors told Mrs Bright and her husband Steve, a driving instructor, their son only had a 50 per cent chance of survival.

She said: "I was begging them not to let him die."

Edward's legs, which had been destroyed by the blood poisoning. were amputated while he was in the coma.

Mrs Bright said: "We knew that it was his only chance. We just wanted him to survive."

A brain scan showed he had not sustained any brain damage, and after two weeks he regained consciousness.

Mrs Bright, of Ripley, Derbyshire, said: "Edward was very brave when we told him that the doctors had taken away his legs. He didn't cry."

The next week Edward, who appeared with William in the TV drama Micawber starring David Jason in 2000, was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where doctors had to remove both of his arms at the elbow.

He was finally discharged last May and was fitted with fibre prosthetic limbs three weeks ago at Nottingham City Hospital.

Edward said: "All my life William has been slightly taller than me - now it's the other way round. It's great."