LITTLE Nathan Howarth has been allowed home permanently for the first time since his life-saving operation.

And he wasted no time settling in by getting straight out on his bike.

It was a rare chance to play out for the youngster who cannot touch or speak to anyone outside the family in a bid to stop infection.

The seven-year-old had a stem cell transplant at the end of February, in which blood cells taken from the umbilical cord of his baby sister, Hannah, were injected into his body.

His family hope the procedure will add 10 years to his life, during which time a cure may be found for his rare condition.

Following the surgery, Nathan had to be kept in an isolation room at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

But now he has been allowed to return to his Great Lever home, to the delight of his parents, Denise Kelly and Mick Howarth.

He will not be able to mix with other people until September at the earliest and cannot play with his friends before then.

He also has to have a special diet.

Miss Kelly said: "It's fantastic to have him home. He's much happier in his own surroundings, but it has been hard.

"We can't just pop out if we need to because someone has to be here with Nathan all the time and he can't go places with us because that would bring him into contact with other people.

"He's upset he can't see his friends, but he's speaking to them on the phone as much as possible.

"The bond he has with his sister is so close. It's unbelievable."

The family must also take precautions at home to ensure Nathan avoids infection.

Miss Kelly said: "Everything he eats has to be freshly prepared. He can only eat fruit and veg if it can be washed and peeled.

"No food can be left out in the open - it has to be packaged and processed.

"If he has milk, juice or pop, only he can drink from the bottle and it has to be thrown away within 12 hours."

Nathan has suffered from the rare genetic blood disorder Falconi's Anaemia for four years, a condition that leaves him exhausted and pale.

Doctors told his parents their son would have only about a year to live without the transplant.

Tests show Nathan is already responding well to his treatment but it may be a year before they know if it is a complete success.