A NEWPORT youngster left partially paralysed by a stroke enjoyed her first day back at school with her friends yesterday.

Kayleigh Ward, 12, suffered a devastating stroke in October, leaving her paralysed down one side and needing physiotherapy to try and recover some movement.

The youngster was in and out of the Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, for two months, before coming home just before Christmas, and yesterday she re-joined her friends at St Joseph's High School.

Kayleigh receives twice-weekly physiotherapy sessions at Eveswell Children's Centre and will be using a wheelchair while at school.

Her mum, Libeca Mochizuki-Ward said Kayleigh can now use her hand a little bit and is practising walking again over the past few weeks.

Mrs Mochizuki-Ward said her daughter will attend school for a few hours a week at first until she feels well enough to attend full time and will have someone accompanying her in lessons.

She said: "Kayleigh's been looking forward to school and it will be great for her to be surrounded by her peers."

Kayleigh collapsed on October 2, after the family buried her pet hamster, Chip, in the garden.

She was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, and transferred to the Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, where the cause of her collapse was identified as a stroke.