LITTLE Andrew Gerrard can now behave like a little boy after being wrapped in cotton wool for his first four years.

Mum Gillian Linnane is looking forward to giving him the freedom to play football and ride a bike following successful cranial surgery to correct his mis-shapen head.

Andrew, of Manchester Road, Leigh, was born with a lump on the back of his skull, originally put down to trauma at birth.

As months passed family and friends became more concerned that his head was growing in the shape of a rugby ball.

Twenty-seven-years-old Gillian started to buy bigger clothes than necessary to go over his head and eventually her son was referred to Pendlebury Children's Hospital where a CAT scan revealed he was suffering from scaphocephaly.

An operation to correct the deformity was done in February and this week Gillian and her partner Stuart Gerrard were told it had been a success.

Now Gillian warns parents to be aware of birth deformities and thanks all who helped the family through the hard times.

She said: "Andrew eventually went for a CAT scan and it was a shocking experience seeing children on the neurological ward. It really opened my eyes to how serious the condition was.

"Time progressed and because of illnesses and cancellations on both my and the hospital's part I felt disheartened, but doctors went to extreme lengths to correct what had gone wrong.

"He had surgery in February in which surgeons turned his skull around. Thankfully Andrew did well and we have received the wonderful news that everything has gone to plan though he may need more surgery when he is older.

"He was always a normal baby and has always smiled throughout the bad times. He is so full of life. I overprotected him and was always on edge because of his condition, but now he wants to go out there and do it and nothing will stand in his way.

"He loves going to nursery and genuinely being a little boy. Now he can have little boy things like a bike and a football.

"I would like to warn new parents to check their babies for bumps and want to thank everyone including my partner Stuart, seven year-old daughter Sophie,for being a strong sister, both families, all the doctors and nurses involved, St Ambrose School, Astley, Greater Manchester Buses, staff at Ethel Austin and Winnard's store and the Kenwood Avenue nursery.

"I would also like to ask people to donate gifts of toys for the hospital at Christmas."

After years of worry Gillian and Stuart are to be parents again in January.

Gillian said: 'It was joyous news. The relief of discovering that Andrew is fine means that we can sit back and enjoy it."