A LOCAL MP has backed a petition which calls for the NHS to offer X-rays for children with limb differences when they are born.

Eleven-year-old Tommy Dengel, from Royston, was born missing part of his right arm, including his hand and a section below the elbow.

While he now has an advanced myoelectric arm, which responds to muscle signals to function close to the real thing, life hasn’t always been easy for the youngster, and his struggles inspired family to found the LimbBo Foundation to help other children in the same situation.

His grandma, Jane Hewitt, is one of the trustees of the foundation and has now launched a petition which seeks to ensure the NHS offer baseline X-rays for any children with limb differences when they are born.

It comes after Tommy was recently knocked down by a car and, when he received an X-ray to assess his injuries, no-one was able to say whether or not his arm was already broken.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: “As the first MP with a congenital limb difference, and first MP that has brought limb loss and limb difference charities together in Parliament for first time in a decade, I’m determined to support charities such as LimbBo to identify the most pressing policy changes needed for people affected by limb loss and limb difference.”