A YOUNG woman with a genetic disorder which stunts her growth flew back to Gwent from France after treatment this week.

Kirsty Roberts, 17, from Abertillery, pictured, had a pioneering operation in France to lengthen her thigh bones last summer.

Special pins were put in her legs, which were then "ratcheted" to make them longer with a screw. The bone alongside the pins also grew in length to match them.

Kirsty spent three months there, recovering and having physiotherapy.

The surgery successfully lengthened her legs by about four inches - meaning she grew from 4ft 2in to 4ft 6in.

She was delighted with the success of the surgery - she could reach taps and light switches that were previously out of reach.

But the teenager suffered a setback just after Christmas, when one of her hips came out of its socket.

Kirsty, who has been doing a secretarial course at Coleg Gwent, in Ebbw Vale, then had to return to France for another operation, and was there for six weeks.

But on Tuesday she flew back from France to Cardiff in a private plane. She couldn't fit into an air ambulance or helicopter, because of the wide bar that keeps her legs apart in order to keep her hips in place.

Kirsty, of Llwyn-Onn Road, Abertillery, is now recovering at the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport, where she will be for about another six weeks.

"She is in very good spirits and we are looking forward to having her home," said her mum, Kay, yesterday.

"We are visiting her every day and she is fine in herself."

She added that the family was extremely grateful to Gwent Health Authority for arranging the flight home for Kirsty.