A CWMBRAN teenager who was left bedridden in hospital after fly-type symptoms was excited to be let out of hospital to attend her sixth form ball.

Natasha Willard, 17, collapsed after falling ill on December 7. This left her unable to talk after doctors found that the virus had caused encephalitis, inflammation of the brain.

She has remained since then at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff for intensive physiotherapy.

But she was delighted to be allowed to attend the Llantarnam School sixth form ball at the Park Plaza in Cardiff on Friday.

Her father, Robert, said a Mercedes picked her up to take her and he would like to thank Windsor Wedding hire Cwmbran for free use of the car, the driver Rob Pittas and also Wayne and Sharon Davies for paying for the petrol.

He said: “She had a fabulous time.”

But added that it was a “shame” that Natasha couldn't come home afterwards.

Adaptations to the family home - funded by kind well-wishers - will begin soon, including a ramp and the widening of the front door.

As previously reported, her family pleaded to the public for donations to cover the bus fare to the hospital as the family do not drive, and to pay for equipment for her.

The family set a target of £3,000 and Mr Willard said he had been “overwhelmed” by the public’s response, with them hitting their target within three months.

After being admitted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, back last year, Miss Willard was unresponsive for three weeks.

But now she has more control, can move more her arms and legs and has regained some speech.

Previously fed through a tube, she has also started to eat solid foods on her own again.

The condition first came about after Miss Willard, who lives in Pontnewydd with Mr Willard, her mother Kirsty, and two siblings, said she felt that she was coming down with flu on December 5.