LYDIA Shepard bounces up and down in a fit of excitement like any other toddler.

But the moment is one that brings tears to the eyes for the room filled with the people who have made it possible.

The three-year-old of King George Crescent, Padgate, has cerebral palsy and cephalitis which severely limit her movement.

Mum Sarah Cooper explains: “Lydia is a twin to Faye and was born prematurely and she developed meningitis and had a bleed on the brain.

“Her entire left hand side is affected so she cannot walk.

“She is always desperate to walk even though she’s going through a lot.”

But thanks to Sarah’s work colleague Ken Baxter she is now walking after his Masonic lodge came in to offer the cash to buy a special walking frame Lydia had tried out but told funding was not available to buy one for the family.

Ken, who works at the Department for Work and Pensions Winmarleigh Street office, said: “When I heard they would have to pay £2,000 for this frame I thought it was wrong.

“Because I’m involved with charity work with the Freemasons I got an application in and it was approved and ordered and here we are now.”

Within 72 hours of Ken making the application to his St George Mark Lodge, based at Garston Masonic Hall in West Lancashire, the money was approved and the frame was ordered from Utah in the US.

“I have worked with Ken for almost seven years,” added 35-year-old Sarah. “We thought he was going to make a donation then someone from the Freemasons knocked on our door and told us they would donate the whole amount for the frame.

“We were amazed by it.

“The frame gives her independence, she has an active sister who she couldn’t play with and now she can.

“Now she can go outside and play like her sister does.

“She can’t be in it for a massive amount of time but it gets her more active.

“Intensive physiotherapy is working well and will help her walk again but the frame will help as well.”

Last week Lydia was handed her new frame from the Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire Freemasons Peter Connolly.

And as soon as she got into the frame, which supports her body weight in an upright position, Lydia wasted no time in jumping and walking.

“You feel like welling up when you see Lydia enjoying it,” added Ken.