SINCE getting back on his feet after four months in a wheelchair, William Gent has looked on as his friends and his sister have cycled to school everyday.

The Bampton schoolboy has been unable to ride a normal bike after surgery to straighten his spine earlier this year.

That all changed yesterday when he was given a specially-adapted bike at his sixth birthday party at Oxford Children's Hospital – chosen as a venue by the six-year-old himself.

His mum Katy Gent said: "It's so nice to come back to the hospital for such a positive and special moment.

"It's been hard to find activities for William to take part in with his friends – he can't climb up the climbing frame, he can't play football or any contact sports and he's not able to pedal on a bike.

"But this gift is amazing and means so much to us and to him.

The 37-year-old teacher added: "His sister Emily is learning to ride a bike and it means we can go out together as a family and he can be a part of that."

William was born with congenital kypho-scoliosis, a condition that means his spine did not form properly in the womb and does not grow straight.

He spent four months at the children's hospital earlier this year before undergoing surgery and liked the place so much he wanted his sixth birthday party on Tom's Ward.

National company Charity Bike Build had donated seven bikes to adults at the hospital last month but Joe Baker from the hospital's charitable funds asked if one could be made for William.

The bike was then built by the Harley-Davidson branch near Dry Sandford as part of a team-building day set up by the firm, and wheeled in its founder Peter Lindsay.

William currently has a balance bike with no pedals but the Gents have been unable to find a bigger bike for their growing son.

The adapted bike has been made to his size and will enable him to ride it without pedals until he is strong enough to do so.

After standing in shock for a few seconds, William had a go on his new bike.

He said: "I love coming back to the hospital to see my friends and I love the bike.

"I'm going to ride it to school everyday with my friends and Emily won't be able to keep up with me."

His dad Dan, also a teacher, thanked the hospital and Charity Bike Build for their gift.

He said: "It's fantastic and it's so generous of them. He was confined to a wheelchair for four months and now he's so energetic and always running around.

"He's raring to go but we have to be careful with him and minimise the risk at all times but this bike will mean he can still take part in normal life."

Joe Baker, from Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds, said: "I am thrilled that Charity Bike Build were able to accommodate a balance bike into their scheme for William and it couldn’t go to a more deserving little boy."