She is described as ‘a wonderful little girl’ by her school.

Now battling nine-year-old Charlotte Oxford is the talk of her classmates after being presented with a special tricycle by a local charity.

Charlotte, of St Mark’s at Talbot Village, has cerebral palsy and quadriplegia and the new trike will help her get around and be as independent as possible.

She has physiotherapy every day and gets about in school either in her wheelchair or, when she has the strength, on pods.

She’ll be able to use the bike in the playground and in some PE lessons.

Charlotte’s teaching assistants Janine Power and Sharon Pritchard applied to local charity the Steve Bernard Foundation for a donation towards the cost of the bike – and were ecstatic when they were given the full amount, more than £800.

The foundation was established by the family and friends of star footballer and athlete Steve, who died in a car accident in 2005.

In the past six years, it has raised tens of thousands of pounds to aid good causes at home and abroad, largely in the sporting field.

Steve’s dad Tony presented the new bike to Charlotte at school while her pals looked on and cheered.

Janine said: “Charlotte is an amazingly large character. Her sense of humour is second to none.”

Tony added: “We were delighted to have been able to help Charlotte.

“This kind of thing is precisely why we set up the foundation, to remember Steve through good causes. We are very proud.”