A PENGUIN chick which suffered splayed legs after his parents squashed him is on the road to recovery after being fitted with tight-fitting trousers.

Staff at Scarborough Sea Life Centre discovered the problem that can result in a disability when the chick was three weeks old.

Resident expert Lyndsey Crawford said: “It was a result of some over-zealous parenting by first-time mum and dad Pinky and Kev, they sat on him a bit too heavily.”

To treat him, the chick has had regular fittings of specially tailored trousers made from an elasticated bandage-like material, while staying with his parents.

After six weeks of treatment, staff say the chick has recovered to have a perfectly penguin-like waddle and is expected to emerge from his nest to meet his extended family properly in about a week’s time.

Ms Crawford said: “He may have had a wobbly start to life with his legs, but we don’t expect any problems with his water wings.”