Children in Need: Boy's first school walk after surgery

A boy who needed an operation in the US to help take his first steps has walked to school for the first time to raise money for Children in Need.

Taliesin Campbell, six, has cerebral palsy and the muscles in his legs were once so tight he was unable to put his feet flat on the floor.

But an operation only available in the United States helped him walk unaided.

He has now walked 1km to his school in Creigiau, Cardiff, with Pudsey Bear joining him to give support.

His mother Claire said he did the walk in under an hour and was so exhausted by the end that he could not speak and was "sweating buckets".

"He did really well. Because all of his friends were shouting out his name, he kept going and did it quicker than we thought he would," she said.

"We're so chuffed and proud of him. When he met Pudsey at the end and had cuddles, he was thrilled and he told me it was his best day ever."

Target beaten

Taliesin and his friends pose for pictures before starting the 1km walk to school

All smiles during the walk to school

Parents joined the walk behind the group of youngsters

Taliesin was greeted by Pudsey at the end of his walk

Taliesin had the surgery to loosen the tightness in his legs three years ago after his family raised money for him to travel to St Louis.

Since then he has been getting stronger and stronger and can now walk a few steps on his own and short distances using two walking sticks.

On his Just Giving fundraising page, Taliesin said: "I usually travel the 1km journey to school either by car or in my wheelchair.

"This year, for Children in Need I am going to try and walk the whole 1km (hills and all) with just my walking sticks and your support."

By the time of the walk on Friday morning, he had raised £1,579.34, beating his target of £1,000.

The annual Children in Need television fundraising gala will be broadcast on BBC One from 19:30 GMT on Friday, while events are being held to raise money around Wales.