Kelis Tait was born with club feet and had her first operation, to stretch the tendons in her ankles, at the age of four months.

The six-year-old is now having pioneering treatment at Sunderland Royal Hospital and is making great progress.

She's even taken up dancing and swimming in between having casts fitted to correct the condition.

Mum Joanne, 39, said: "We've only ever bought her three pairs of shoes because she's either been in plaster or special shoes from the hospital."

Inspired by her cousin, the six-year-old began ballet and tap lessons at the age of three and even though she struggled with balance, she was determined and passed her first tap dancing exam with flying colours.

But she had to stop dancing at the age of four to undergo a delicate cross-tendon transfer operation, which involved cutting the tendons from either side of the feet, drilling through the bone and attaching the tendons back to the opposite side of the foot.

However, the operation was not as successful as the surgeon had hoped, so she was put back in plaster for a number of weeks, followed by physiotherapy.

Kelis was born with bilateral talipes and started the Ponseti method of treatment at Sunderland Royal Hospital at just two weeks old.

The method uses manipulation of the feet and casting, followed by boots with a bar, reducing the need for extensive surgery.

Last year, the six-year-old had a special frame fitted to her right leg, the worse of the two.

Her parents, Joanne and Gary, from Collingwood Street, Chichester, South Shields, were given strict instructions to tighten the metal rods in her legs on a daily basis, to slowly manipulate the foot into a better position.

The process took six weeks, followed by more time in a plaster cast, but Mortimer Primary School pupil Kelis amazed doctors by making a quick recovery.

Mrs Tait, 39, a shop manager, said: "The hardest part was the frame, but she was up and about within two days of taking it off.

"Her consultant has taken pictures and videos of her to conferences to show what can be done."

As well as dancing, Kelis started swimming a few months ago, but both are now on hold as she is back in plaster.

Mr Tait, 36, a civil servant, said: "She will probably be receiving treatment at the hospital until she is 16, possibly older."

Kelis, who was diagnosed with the condition in the womb, has special fibreglass splints to wear at night, as well as special shoes from the hospital.

It means she can't dress up in high heels like most girls her age, but she doesn't let it get her down.

Mr Tait, who also has a 12-year-old son, Adam, from a previous relationship, said: "She's grown up with it, so she doesn't know any different. She's always managed to get around.

"She's a bit unsteady at times and she gets tired if she walks around a lot, so we'll carry her, or we've got a wheelchair from the hospital."