A TEST Valley father has walked for the first time – a year after being struck down by a rare illness that cruelly robbed him of all four limbs.

Alex Lewis, 34, has triumphantly taken his first steps unaided during an emotional night in his home town of Stockbridge.

The father-of-one proudly walked into The Greyhound On The Test pub, which is run by his fiancé Lucy Townsend, ahead of a fundraising event in his honour.

He said: “I have not stood up in the Greyhound for over a year now, so it was a lovely feeling to walk in and stand here in my partner's business.

“I am grateful to be here.”

Brave Alex was guest of honour at the cheese and wine night at the pub, an event that marked the launched of a campaign by the village's Southern Co-operative branch.

As reported in last week's Andover Advertiser, the retailer has kick-started a fundraising drive in a bid to collect £15,000 for the Alex Lewis Trust.

It aims to help fundraise for his rehabilitation as well as for the hospital where he was treated after contracting bacterial infection Group A Streptococcus, which rapidly developed into multiple organ failure, septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome.

Among those in attendance at Monday night's event was legendary TV sports presenter Dickie Davies, who is a friend of Alex.

He said: “I have never met someone with such commitment. He has never had one ounce of self-pity in this.

“He's just a remarkable man and it's very inspiring to be in his presence.

“It's a year since it all started and in that time he has never ever let anything get the better of him.

“He is determined to have a normal life and refuses to accept he is disabled.”

Alex is starting out on shorter prosthetic limbs to master the art of being upright by himself once again, before progressing to use longer legs.

He is now aiming to walk his fiancé down the aisle after surprising friends and family by unexpectedly popping the question.

For pictures and the full story from the emotional night, pick up a copy of this week’s Andover Advertiser.