EVEN a champion young chatterbox was lost for words the day he met the world's favourite cartoon character.

Lyndon Longhorne's date with Mickey Mouse was a reward for the long months of pain and frustration he endured as he fought back from a near deadly dose of meningitis when he was just nine months old.

With his mum Tammy Wheeldon and her parents June and Terry, the brave four-year-old from Crook, County Durham, has just spent a busy two weeks enjoying the Florida sunshine.

He fed dolphins at Seaworld, mixed with the stars at Universal Studios and swam at snow-covered Blizzard Beach in the Walt Disney World Resort.

The family's trip was paid for with money raised by hundreds of well-wishers inspired by Lyndon's battle to overcome almost overwhelming handicaps.

He survived only because doctors amputated both his legs, an arm and the tips of the fingers on his other hand.

Lyndon proved his resilience by learning to walk on artificial legs and was able to start school last month only a few weeks after painful surgery on his hand.

At Christmas, his courage was rewarded by a meeting with England captain Alan Shearer who walked side by side with him as he managed a few faltering steps across the Newcastle United training ground.

As he followed the youngster's progress, pensioner Stan Riddell was organising a series of charity events to pay for the family to fly out to Florida. Some were held at Glaxo's social club, in Barnard Castle.

In Florida, former Spennymoor businessman Kevin Dawson offered one of his rental villas and passes to Disney World after staff faxed him a story about Lyndon from The Northern Echo.

Swimming in the villa pool was Lyndon's favourite part of the trip. Tammy said: "He was shy when he met Mickey Mouse. He went to him but wouldn't say anything.

"He had a brilliant time. It was fantastic. Lyndon enjoyed it all and swam every day. We couldn't keep him out of the pool."