A CHRISTCHURCH pensioner has a new spring in her step thanks to a new prosthetic foot.

Sylvia Williams, 73, had all of her toes amputated from her right foot when she was 28 years old after getting blood poisoning.

Since then, she has lived her life padding her shoes and wearing other uncomfortable prosthetics in order to carry out normal everyday tasks.

But now, just weeks after getting her new lifelike foot from Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s prosthetics department, Sylvia said she has a new lease of life.

The Mudeford pensioner, who moved back to the area from Spain after her husband George died in December 2012, praised staff at the hospital, saying they were “fantastic”.

Her new foot is so lifelike, the toe nails can be painted and Mrs Williams can even wear sandals for the first time in years as prosthetic designers have separated the big toe from the rest.

She said: “I had a pad put on the foot by a doctor when I was 28 and it gave me blood poisoning.

“I had to go to hospital and have all the toes taken off. In those days the NHS didn’t provide you with anything. “Since then I’ve had various things but nothing as marvellous as this.

“When I lived in Spain we went to see what they could do but it would have cost us 7,000 euros.”

She added: “They’ve given me the name of some special nail polish to buy. I can’t wait to do them red! The hospital was fantastic. I feel so much more confident going out and about.

“I can drive much better and it does help with my walking; I don’t need a stick now.

“I’ve not owned any sandals for 40 years; now I’ll be wearing them until Christmas next year.”