THE parents of a youngster who were told their son may never walk have spoken of the emotional moment he took his first steps.

Rhys Taylor was diagnosed with the rare Angelman Syndrome aged one, which has limited his development and also meant he has never been able to speak.

But the seven-year-old has consistently proved the doctors wrong, first being able to crawl aged 19 months, and last year walking for a mile with an aid to raise money for a new wheelchair.

And now he has managed to take his first steps for the first time completely unaided, to the delight of Rhys' parents, Sheri, aged 31, and Heath, aged 33.

Rhys achieved the feat while at school, Green Fold in Farnworth, while he was walking with the help of a teacher who was helping him balance with a mobility belt.

His dad Heath, from Astley Bridge, said: "They were walking with him at school and found that he was needing less and less support. He managed to walk about five or six meters without the aid.

"The first we heard of it was when my wife went into school for assembly, where they give out an award for star of the week to one of the pupils.

"It was a huge surprise when Rhys was given the award, my wife was an emotional wreck when she heard."

His parents then returned to school the following week and was able to see her son walk unaided for the first time.

Heath added: "We are very proud of him. It's a very proud moment for any parent to see their child take their first steps, but for Rhys that has just been amplified on a huge scale."

Rhys has only been able to walk unaided in school at present, but his dad hopes this will come over time.

Heath said: "I think it is a confidence thing, which we are just trying to help build up at the moment.

"Also we don't think he has fully realised what he has achieved yet."

Rhys' parents do not believe he will ever be able to walk for long periods completely unaided, but they are overjoyed at how far he has come.

Heath said: "He will always have a need to walk with an aid, but it was amazing to see him take his first steps."

Angelman Syndrome is a condition which affects mostly children and young adults and is extremely rare, with only a few hundred cases recorded in the past four decades.

Rhys and his parents have raised thousands of pounds since he was born to pay for specialist equipment, including a wheelchair which is suitable for different terrains.

His story captured the hearts of readers of The Bolton News, and Rhys was invited to switch on the Christmas lights at Astley Bridge in December.