Paralysed mum-to-be Penny Roberts is to be allowed to keep and bring up her baby.

The decision was reached yesterday at a meeting between Penny, the baby's father Andrew Mitchell, of Portsmouth, and Brad-ford council's top social services workers.

Assistant Social Services Director Mike Stow said: "I am pleased that after careful consideration and deliberation we have arrived at a mutually acceptable way forward which is in the best intersts of the child and will enable Ms Roberts to bring up her baby.

"This has never been an issue of cost but a genuine desire to provide the best possible upbringing for the child."

Penny is due to give birth in four weeks. She was paralysed after plunging 14,000 feet into a concrete Florida runway when a ski-dive went wrong and her parachute failed to open properly three years ago.

At one stage Penny feared the council would take her baby away claiming it was due to the cost of caring for mother and baby.

Yesterday Penny was said to be delighted at her specially adapted home in Steeton.

Mr Stow added: "A care plan will be developed which will allow Ms Roberts to fulfil her wish to bring up her child.

"In view of her circumstances she will require considerable assistance with many of the physical tasks of caring for her baby, especially in the days immediately following their return home.

"Further support will be provided, in addition to what she personally receives, which will allow her to arrange convenient care for the child.

"I am sure that with her level of commitment and determination she will more than meet the challenge."

Friends and neighbours in Steeton had pledged to help Penny in her bid to keep her baby.

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