AFTER years of heartbreak, the parents of a five-year-old girl have finally seen their daughter take her first steps.

As the Mail revealed last month, Pat and Elwyn Williams, from Brynteg, Wrexham, have been left distraught for years because of their daughter Chloe's mystery illness which means she cannot talk or walk.

The couple first noticed the problem when Chloe was 18 months old, and since then the toddler has baffled doctors and specialists from some of the best hospitals in the UK, who have been unable to diagnose her condition.

But thanks to a group of Wrexham engineers, Chloe has now been able to take her first few tentative steps with the help of a walking aid fashioned out of a shopping trolley.

Staff at DHD Engineering Services on the Wrexham Industrial Estate offered their services to Pat and Elwyn after hearing Chloe's story, and built a unique metal stroller.

And after just 10 minutes, brave Chloe was taking her first shaky steps.

Mum Pat said since her daughter has been given the device she has been able to stand unaided for a few moments, something her parents only dreamt about.

'It is amazing to see Chloe take her first steps,' said Pat. 'We never would have thought it possible.

'We are so grateful to the engineers at DHD who have designed and built this for her. It is the best present she could ever have been given. Now we have this ray of hope there will be no stopping her.

'At first she was a bit shaky, but after 10 minutes she was striding around the room. It was amazing to watch how much she improved in such a short space of time.'

Chloe can make a few noises and communicates largely by pointing, but Pat says it's normally guesswork and Chloe gets visibly frustrated when she is unable to say and do what she wants.

'Chloe is happy in herself but it is frustrating - both for us and her,' said Pat. 'There are times when it can get really to you. She's a happy-go-lucky girl but it is very upsetting to see her not be able to do all the things she wants to do.

'In every other way, she is a normal toddler.

'She understands what is going on around her and she is always smiling. It's just that she cannot talk to us or run around. Until she got the stroller she would move around the floor on her hands and knees, pulling her legs up to her chest like a little rabbit.'

Pat and Elwyn are now praying that a muscle biopsy in the summer will help their daughter lead a normal life.

Since Chloe's condition was highlighted by the Mail, Pat and Elwyn have been encouraged by dozens of phone calls from parents all over the country who have children who also cannot walk or talk - all of whom are little girls.

Patricia added: 'After people read Chloe's story we have made friends with parents like myself and Elwyn and they are pinning their hopes on the results of her muscle biopsy.

'If it gives the doctors any clue as to what is wrong with our little girl there is hope for them too. We always thought we were alone, so it's been nice to chat to other families who are going through what we are.'

Peter Cuff, from DHD Engineering Services, said staff were delighted to help Chloe walk.

He said: 'We made a stroller for a little boy suffering from cerebral palsy a few years ago, and it was very successful. The basic design is made out of a shopping trolley.

'In the walker, Chloe can move along on the wheels while strapped into the harness. It only took a few days for the engineers to make the walker and we are only too glad to have helped her.'