LITTLE Thomas Eyers began his first day of school yesterday, despite being half the size of most of his classmates.

Cwmbran youngster Thomas was less than 10 inches long and weighed just 1lb 15oz when he was born 13 weeks premature in 2006.

Now aged four, he is still just 2ft tall - the size of an average two-year-old.

But Thomas, who has battled numerous health problems including chronic lung disease, septicaemia, and pneumonia and spent the first year of his life in hospital, started school on time yesterday when he joined the reception class at Woodlands Primary in Cwmbran.

Mum Janine said there were a few tears when she left Thomas for his first morning of classes at 9am, but that he had soon cheered up by the time she came to collect him at 11am.

Thomas will start attending full school days next week.

Mrs Eyers, who is also mum to a six-year-old Nina, said: “It was a massive thing for him to do and with so many people and children around I think he got scared. But when I picked him up he was laughing and happy, and said he wanted to come back tomorrow.”

Mrs Eyers and her husband Steve had to tailor-make Thomas’ uniform, cutting five inches off the leg of his trousers because even the smallest size was too big.

Mrs Eyers added; “He’s so little, but there’s a lot of people up there to look out for him and he’s been through a lot worse. I think he’s going to be fine.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Well done, Thomas

THOMAS Eyers was among hundreds of Gwent children starting school for the first time yesterday.

But whereas for the majority of them it was an easy step on the road to growing up, for this little lad it marked a real achievement.

For Thomas was born 13 weeks premature in 2006 weighing just 1lb 15oz. The first year of his life was spent in hospital as he fought off one serious illness after another.

He may still be only two feet tall but Thomas has already shown he more than measures up to tough challenges and we wish him all the best.