CHRISTMAS will be extra special this year for little Holly Lindsay.

The brave tot is getting much better after wearing a special helmet, which re-shaped her head, during the summer - a story highlighted in your Advertiser/Messenger.

One-year-old Holly, from Pavilion Gardens, Bromsgrove, wore the plastic helmet 23 hours a day for eight weeks to correct a flattening to the left side of her head, a condition call positional plagiocephaly.

Now five months after having the helmet removed the youngster, who celebrated her first birthday on December 5, is fighting fit.

Her dad, Ian, said: "Holly is now just like any other child her age. She goes to nursery twice a week and is really benefiting from socialising with other children and playing. She is developing really well.

"She seems a little bewildered by the Christmas tree and lights at the moment but I'm sure she will enjoy the presents."

First-time parents Ian and his wife Fiona had originally noticed a problem when Holly was just six-weeks-old. Fiona mentioned it to her GP during a routine check but he said it would correct itself as Holly got older.

But several appointments later the parents were still unhappy. They then found out about treatment for the condition.

At a private clinic in Leeds - run by Medistox Ltd, which is the leading UK supplier of the custom-made remoulding devices, a specialist measured Holly's head and found it was 16mm out of alignment. The normal is about two to three millimetres.

So a scan was taken of her head and the band was made, complete with pretty pink butterflies on it, in America. The helmet allowed the head to grow with greater symmetry and improved shape.

When Holly's head alignment was down to three millimetres the helmet was removed.

Ian said: "Holly's head is growing naturally and she is a lovely little girl.

"She is into everything and very social."

He added: "At the moment she is still enjoying all her new toys she had for her birthday recently but I'm sure she will be ready for more presents on Christmas Day."