LYNDON LONGHORNE could soon be walking tall again after specialists measured him up for new prosthetic legs.

Paralympic hopeful Lyndon, 13, from Crook, County Durham, lost both legs and an arm when he was struck down by meningitis as a baby.

The teenager met prosthetic consultant Mark Ledger at the Nuffield Hospital, in Leeds, yesterday, who measured him for the set of artificial limbs.

The first stage was to make a cast of his stumps from plaster of Paris.

Light metals, titanium and aluminium will make up most of the legs, with carbon fibre used to make the feet springy.

The £10,000 limbs were paid for with funds raised by Durham County Council chairman Brian Myers’ Limbs For Lyndon campaign, which was backed by Northern Echo readers.

“Somehow the system has overlooked Lyndon a little, as his mum tells me he has not had a new pair of legs for seven years,”

said Mr Ledger.

“I understand he is an exceptional swimmer and has great ambitions to compete, if not in the London 2012 Paralympics, then in 2016.”

He told Lyndon he faced a tough task learning to use his new limbs and a lot of work was expected from him.

The right leg will contain a knee socket which will be unlocked after Lyndon has worked closely with physiotherapists.

“We will be getting him up and walking for the first time in several years, then, for Lyndon, the hard work starts,” he said.

“Lyndon will need to learn to walk again, which is very difficult.

I learnt years ago never to say never, and really it is for Lyndon to prove what he can do.”

The schoolboy is delighted the legs will be delivered before his 14th birthday on November 28.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait to see what they look like.

“It means I can go out with my mates without my parents.

“Hopefully, they will change my life.”

Mother Tammy Shevels said: “It is the start of a long journey really.

“I’m quite excited to see what the end product is going to be like and what they are going to be like with him as well.”

The campaign is continuing with the aim of buying Lyndon a bionic arm for when he learns to drive. To help, call 0191-372-5298.