Life-changing treatment has begun on a blind toddler who won the hearts of the community.

Two-and-a-half year-old Freddie Penny has arrived safely in Thailand thanks to a district-wide fundraising campaign that paid for his trip.

He is with mum Robyn Gough, 24, and nan Jenny, at the Unique Access Hospital in Bangkok.

On Monday, the youngster started his 14-day course of stem cell therapy which involves injections and stimulation of the cells behind his eyes which is hoped to give him vision.

It cost £25,000, which was raised during the Mercury-backed appeal.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper on Tuesday, Miss Gough said: “We arrived safely on Saturday and were greeted off the plane and escorted directly to the hospital. We’ve been very well looked after.

“The hospital is huge. The staff, nurses and doctors are all friendly and very polite. They have all made us feel welcome and helped us to settle in.

“Freddie’s treatment started on Monday and has started well.”

Freddie has septo-optic dysplasia and part of the condition means his optic nerves are undeveloped, causing blindness.

The technology to restore his sight is not available in the UK but has been available in Thailand for 10 years.

The only option is to travel there, at a cost of £25,000.

Miss Gough added: “There is another young boy that’s just arrived from Brazil who also has SOD like Freddie who is here to receive the same treatment.”

Before the trip, Miss Gough sent doctors the results of Freddie’s MRI scans which they have reviewed and based on his condition they are confident that the treatment will be successful.

Miss Gough understands that the majority of people start to notice a difference after eight days but it can vary between patients.

It is thought younger patients have a higher success rate.

The family are staying at The Emporium Tower. Miss Gough’s father Kevin will be joining them this weekend. They will return on Sunday, May 21.