THE FAMILY of a sick youngster has raised the money needed to buy her a special car seat and pushchair.

Alana Beth Dixon, who is 13-months-old, has a range of medical issues which mean her development is delayed and she must be fed through a syringe.

She has a hole in her heart, low muscle tone around her mouth, enlarged kidneys, bowel and bladder problems, nerve issues and is registered blind.

Her family, including mother Claire Dixon, have been raising money to buy her an adapted car seat and pushchair.

Without the aids, Alana Beth and her mother would have been virtually housebound.

A fundraiser was held at St Luke’s Church, near the family home in Ushaw Moor, near Durham City, in December, and friends, businesses and the Durham Lions have made donations.

Now enough money has been raised to pay for both items.

The car seat has arrived and the pushchair will follow by the end of February.

Mrs Dixon, a 32-year-old part-time nurse who also has a son Aidan, four, thanked everyone who had supported the fundraising.