Siamese twin Jodie 'making progress'

Separated Siamese twin Jodie is recovering well and should be home for early summer, according to managers at the hospital where she is being treated.

Doctors are pleased with Jodie's progress, and have allowed her parents to push her around the Manchester hospital in a pram.

The five-month-old girl has amazed surgeons with her recovery since the 20-hour operation to separate her from weaker twin Mary in November.

At first the surgery was bitterly opposed by the twins' parents, who are Roman Catholics from the island of Gozo near Malta.

'Recovering as expected'

They fought a legal battle to stop doctors carrying out the operation, but were unsuccessful.

But now Michaelangelo Attard, 44, and wife Rina, 29, are said to dote on their surviving daughter.

A spokesman for St Mary's hospital, Manchester confirmed that Jodie had been taken for walks around the hospital.

"She is continuing to recover as expected and is making good progress. Her parents have been able to take her for walks in the pram around the hospital for several weeks now.

"Plans to allow or facilitate a return to Malta are ongoing," the spokesman added.