The dad of a seven-year-old girl due to have her leg amputated is on a mission to get her a super bionic prosthesis so she can enjoy running and jumping again.

Bunty Stalham, from Ramsgate, suffers from incurable condition neurofibromatosis, which causes tumours to form on nerve tissue and "eat away" at the bone.

It has meant in her short life she has had to have numerous operations on her left leg at Great Ormond Street Hospital to try to save her shin bone after the fibia was destroyed, leaving her wheelchair-bound for months each time.

But now medics have told her parents that the constant surgery has not worked and next month she will have to have her leg amputated below the knee.

Dad Dean, a community artist and Stretch charity worker, says Bunty is an exceptional child who has bravely endured years of pain.

"She is the bravest little girl in the world - always full of hopes and dreams - an absolute inspiration to everyone she meets," he said.

"To have her leg amputated, it will affect her emotionally, but she will get over it because of what's she's like - she's so happy and she'll enjoy running, jumping and skipping once we can get her a new leg."

Mr Stalham, 56, says he knows there are prosthetic limbs available on the NHS but he is researching 'activity' legs in the US, which have attachments for different things and cost £20,000.

He is trying to get the money together towards the costs and has so far raised more than £2,100 through his Go Fund Me page.

"We want to give Bunty all the options and so we want her to see everything that's out there," he said.

"I've been told the best ones are in the US, but some have said ones in the UK are just as good."

He admits that while Bunty has always dealt well with her "bad leg", as she calls it, she has gone through a lot.

"She has undergone three operations a year to try to save the shin bone," he said.

"This year already she has had two major bone graft operations. Her last operation just a month ago took away four inches of affected shin.

"Her foot is attached to only two inches of bone from her ankle and was pulled up to meet two inches of bone coming down from her knee - these were joined by pins that run through her leg from the outside."

Mr Stalham, who helps homeless people and marginalised groups through his charity work, says he is now asking for help in raising the money and is already humbled by the donations he has received.

He added: "Bunty is an exceptional child and I want to get her an exceptional new leg.

"One where she can do all the things that any normal little girl can do. Including running, jumping and skipping. Bunty loves the trampoline, so that too.

"I hate to ask but with this I need all the help I can get."

To donate click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet