A GIRL of 11 who has used a wheelchair for most of her life walked down the catwalk as a model at London Fashion Week yesterday.

Katie Renshaw was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which impairs muscle co-ordination, as a baby.

Katie Renshaw walked down the catwalk yesterday modelling clothes for the Panda brand, using a stroller but only for support

The 11-year-old went through a nine-hour operation to straighten her legs and feet in order to help her walk for the first time

Three years ago she had a nine-hour operation to straighten her feet and legs at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool. After another operation, and intensive physiotherapy, she took her first unaided steps last year.

Yesterday she was all smiles as she modelled clothes for the Panda brand, using a stroller on the catwalk but only for support.

Katie, from Runcorn, Cheshire, is signed to Zebedee Management and has already done photoshoots for River Island and Matalan.

Her mother Clare, 43, said: ‘She keeps saying how proud she is of herself.

'She’s been through everything she’s been through, and now she’s able to do something as massive as this.'

She had the operation at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool, and then underwent another and intensive physiotherapy to help her walk

London Fashion Week is being held over five days from Friday last week to Tuesday this week