A 12 year old who had a liver transplant as a baby is celebrating after success in a sporting event.

James Jenkins from Worcester competed in swimming events in the British Transplant Games, winning two golds, two silver's and a bronze.

James' mum Maria Jenkins said: "I'm so proud of him, he's a little athlete. He just loves it. It's really given him something to aim for, it's such a positive experience. It has become something that is a real highlight.

"He makes friends with people who have been through similar things, different stories, but they are all the same, everybody knows what it's like. They can just support one another."

James, a student at RGS was born with the rare liver disease, biliary atresia, and was given a life-saving transplant when he was just 11 months old. The British transplant games are aimed at giving hope to children who have had transplants and a chance to compete in sporting events.

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Mrs Jenkins said: "It really struck me as a mum because it's a lot to come to terms with having such a sick child, but you concentrate on how lucky you are with him being so strong and so well and having such a good time.

"It is not easy because it brings back memories of when I was going through this 12 years ago, I couldn't imagine him being this well, I couldn't even imagine him going to school. But it gives you hope and it's wonderful to see."

"He is a lovely boy with such a great attitude."

James has to take medication everyday and has to be extra careful as normal illnesses like Chicken Pox for someone with a transplant can be very serious. He also has to have a biopsy every five years.

Mrs Jenkins says other than that he is a normal boy. "He makes friends with everyone, he loves his sport and he's learning to come to terms with the things he has to deal with and making the most out of life," she said.