INSPIRATIONAL teenager Tilly Lockey has celebrated her 16th birthday in style with glitzy bash on Tyneside.

She was joined by family and friends for the surprise do at the Baltic art gallery in Gateshead over the weekend.

The family was also celebrating her older sister Tia’s 18th birthday.

Tilly’s 16th birthday is a milestone her parents, Mark, who teaches maths, and Sarah, who are from Consett, thought they might never see.

Read more: Farmer accused of moving car WITH HIS TRACTOR facing trial

In 2007 she was diagnosed with meningitis septicaemia B and doctors said she ‘zero chance’ of survival.

The brave youngster fought on but the disease meant her hands and toes had to be amputated when she was just 15-months-old.

She now has two bionic arms, known as Hero Arm, which she helped to develop, and has a huge social media following, which she uses to promote body positivity.

Tilly is an entrepreneur, an ambassador for the Bristol-based company Open Bionics, and travels the world as an inspirational speaker.

Tilly also works as a television presenter on Sky TV's kids’ new programme FYI: For Your Information.

Next year, she will perform at Radio One's Big Weekend having recently won the CBBC singing TV programme ‘Got What It Takes’.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054