A TEENAGER left unable to talk and walk after being hit by a dangerous driver has completed an inspirational lockdown charity challenge - after being stirred by the heroics of Captain Tom Moore.

Gemma Coates, 17, a pupil at Chadsgrove Special School in Catshill, used her specially-adapted walker to complete 100 laps of her garden, just like NHS fundraiser Capt Moore.

Her motivation for the challenge was to raise money for University Hospitals Birmingham, who aided Gemma's recovery after her life-changing accident.

Thus far, she has raised more than £1,900 for the charity and donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gemmacoatesfundraiser/

"Gemma is an inspiration," said Emma Nolan, careers education and work-related learning coordinator at Chadsgrove, on Meadow Road.

"All the staff and her friends at Chadsgrove are extremely proud of her hard work and determination to accomplish this incredible task."

Gemma spent long periods rehabilitating at Birmingham Children's Hospital after the accident in 2017 left her with an acquired brain injury.

She was hit by a van, whose driver failed to stop at a red light, when Gemma was walking to school one morning in Sheldon.

During lockdown, she and sister Paige developed the idea of replicating Captain Moore's garden walk, with Gemma completing ten laps each day for ten successive days as her family cheered her on.