Up on stage, six-year-old Ava Bainbridge squeals with delight as she dances.

It is a moment her mother, Gemma Day, 31, never thought she would see.

At 14 months old, Ava had part of both feet amputated after she was suddenly struck down by the deadly infection meningitis.

As she lay in her hospital bed, medics said she may never be able to walk, skip, dance and live her childhood to the full.

But Ava defied doctors to recover, and on the day she was sent home, she stood up.

Next, she learned to walk with the help of a pair of £900 prosthetic slippers designed with a set of toes.

With the special 'feet', the first to be made for someone so young, Ava now loves to dance, trampoline and take part in drama school.

She has since had another pair of the prosthetics made, and continues to be a 'little diva' who loves to perform.

Ava Bambridge, six, has defied doctors to learn to walk despite having parts of both feet amputated after being struck down by the deadly meningitis infection

After the operation, Ava was given blocks to put into her shoes to help her to walk again, but she found them too uncomfortable. Now she has a special pair of silicone slippers with toes on the end (pictured)

With the special 'feet', the first to be made for someone so young, Ava now loves to dance, trampoline and take part in drama school

Ms Day, 31, of Gateshead, said: 'She is amazing, there's no doubt about that.

'Ava's meningitis hit suddenly and without warning. She didn't have a rash at first, like you would expect.

'We didn't really know what was going on. She was just unwell so we took her up to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

'Fortunately for us there was a doctor there who was concerned because her heart rate was high and decided to admit her.'

Withing the space of a few hours, spots began to develop on Ava's body and soon she was covered from head to toe.

Within two hours she was on a ventilator before being transferred over to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

For the next 10 days Ava, who was just one year old at the time, fought for her life.

'We really didn't know what was going to happen,' Mrs Day said.

'We didn't know if she was going to pull through and she didn't seem to be getting any better.'

The silicone slippers are put on under Ava's shoes so she can walk. She has since gone from strength to strength and now loves gymnastics and dancing

Ava, pictured with her mother Gemma day, 31, and father Kenneth Bainbridge, 36, now attends acting classes

Ava's bravery has just been recognised with a Bravehearts North East award. This event celebrates young people who have overcome extraordinary problems. Ava is pictured with Ayoze Perez and Carol Malia at the award ceremony at St. James' Park in Newcastle

With the deadly condition taking hold, doctors decided Ava would have to have both feet, which had turned black, removed.

However, a decision was later made to carry out a bi-lateral foot amputation.

This involved surgeons amputating half of the youngster's right foot and the toes on her left foot.

Ms Day and partner Kenneth Bainbridge, 36, were told this type of operation had never been performed on someone so young, so they were unsure of the outcome.

For the next six months, Ava stayed in hospital recovering.

'On the day she got home, she stood up,' Mrs Day. 'A month later she took her first step. And after that there was no stopping her.'

Ava was left on a ventilator for 10 days and fighting for her life when the meningitis hit. But she survived, and later, when she was allowed to leave hospital, she stood up (she is pictured, right, taking her first steps)

Ms Day says Ava's prosthetic feet have allowed her to have a normal childhood. She said: 'It's just amazing what they have done for her. When anyone comes to the house she gets out her feet to show them'

After the operation, Ava was given blocks to put into her shoes to help her to walk again, but she found them too uncomfortable.

Then, experts at Dorset Orthopedic, a prosthetics firm, created a pair of silicone slippers with toes on the end.

The slippers, which cost £900, are put on before ordinary shoes to allow Ava to walk properly.

As her feet grew, she had another pair of the slippers made, and has continued going from strength to strength.

Ms Day said: 'They are brilliant. They just look so life-like. When she has got them on you think she has real feet.

'It's just amazing what they have done for her. When anyone comes to the house she gets out her feet to show them.'

Ava's bravery has just been recognised with a Bravehearts North East award.

This event celebrates young people who have overcome extraordinary problems.