SIX months ago parents of two-year-old Maisie Cooper set themselves a huge challenge - to raise £60,000 to allow their daughter to undergo pioneering surgery in America to help her walk.

Gareth and Hayley Cooper, of Crosskeys, thought it would take them at least two years but in just a quarter of that time, they have not only reached their target but raised an extra £6,000 on top of that too.

Now the parents, who have described the achievement as "overwhelming", will use the extra funds to pay for Maisie, who suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, to undergo intense physiotherapy treatment and to pay for exercise equipment.

This is in the hope she can be physically ready for the operation to take place in St Louis in March or April time next year.

The life-changing surgery will reduce the tightness the youngster currently suffers from in her muscles and may mean that, with the help of physiotherapy, she will be able to walk unaided.

Mr Cooper, 28, said: "So many people have gone out of their way. It's been overwhelming.

"We can now close the fundraising and just focus 100 per cent on getting her ready for the operation.

"It's a life changer for her. It's an exciting opportunity for Maisie and our family to have a normal life which, from where we've been and Maisie in particular, is an overwhelming prospect.

"We've been blown away by the fundraising. It's so difficult to try and put into words how appreciative we are and for the sacrifices people have made."

The fundraising has included large donations such as £5,000 from Lloyds TSB head office in London and £12,000 from an unnamed director from the bank. Mr Cooper works for the company in Newport.

But Mr Cooper said they also managed to reach around £35,000 just from people donating small amounts and from events including fun days, a three peaks challenge and bag packing.

Any money raised which isn't used for Maisie will be donated to a similar cause or another charity.

Mr Cooper added: "This is something Maisie will always remember through ourselves and is definitely something to now carry her forward. We will always make sure she knows of how many people wanted to make a difference for her."