THE parents of a severely handicapped girl are looking at a brighter future in a dream home they are having purpose-built for their daughter.

Mike and Louise Davenport are counting the days to moving into a country home designed to make life much easier for eight-year-old Laura, who suffers from a severe form of epilepsy.

The youngster was diagnosed with West's Syndrome aged ten weeks, meaning her physical and mental development has now ended.

She needs round-the-clock care, but the practicalities of looking after her placed immense strain on her parents.

However, the New Year will bring new hope for the family, with work almost complete on the open-plan home overlooking the village of Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Mr Davenport said: "She needs 100 per cent care but a conventional home, such as the one we are in at the moment, involves an awful lot of lifting and carrying."

The design of the new home will allow Laura to move freely on a special buggy from the kitchen to the dining area and into the living room.

Laura, a pupil at Springwater School, Starbeck, Harrogate, has two sisters, Megan, six, and Caitlin, five.

Mr and Mrs Davenport were originally refused permission to build "Laura's House", as it has become known, in the rural setting.

Councillors eventually gave the plans the go-ahead after agreeing there were special circumstances.