A NORTH-EAST mother has taken her first tentative steps to recovery in her battle to beat a crippling disease.

Ann Teasdale is receiving treatment in the US after family and friends raised £30,000 to pay for her trip.

Mrs Teasdale, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, had to have a leg amputated after contracting the rare condition reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS).

She faces the possibility of having the other leg removed unless specialist treatment from Texan Dr Donald Rhodes is successful.

After several weeks of treatment, mother-of-four Mrs Teasdale is beginning to show signs of improvement.

She has been able to use a prosthetic leg for the first time and this week was able to take a few steps.

In a message to her family, Mrs Teasdale said: "The good news is I have taken my first few steps. Although my foot is still down and twisted, the doctor put it into a special boot and with my walking limb and a walking frame, I actually walked."

Although making progress, Mrs Teasdale is missing her family, especially daughters Louise and Leanne Fawcett.

Both are Territorial Army soldiers in Newton Aycliffe and recently took part in a sponsored event which raised £1,700 for the appeal to help their mother.

Members of the 124 Recovery Company REME, in Newton Aycliffe, they set out to cover the distance from the town to Texas by cycling 4,063 miles and rowing 1,875 miles.

Due to the fact that some volunteers were deployed to the Gulf for the war in Iraq, some of the miles had to be covered on exercise machines in a gymnasium.

Commanding officer Major Mark Jackson handed over the cheque to fundraising co-ordinator Bill Blenkinsopp, with Mayor of Sedgefield Councillor David Newell also in attendance.