A DISABLED toddler’s family have vowed to keep on searching for treatments after hopes of a breakthrough US operation were dashed.

The family of two-year-old Finley Rosbotham had pinned their hopes that the toddler, who has cerebral palsy, would be eligible for the expensive operation to give him the gift of speech.

The Oswaldtwistle toddler has already astounded doctors after learning to take his first steps, in spite of being paralysed down one side.

His parents had hoped £45,000 spinal surgery by specialists in St Louis, Missouri, would reduce the spasms of cerebral palsy, and enable him to speak.

However, parents Kelly and Ivan have been told that the nature of the paralysis in his tongue and in one arm, cannot be corrected by the procedure.

They were told of the decision after sending US doctors a video of Finley.

Now they are pinning their hopes on an intensive speech therapy course, which will be delivered by therapists at Accrington’s Holly House.

The centre, based at the Acorn Primary Health Centre on Blackburn Road, has been credited which his remarkable physical progress.

Now therapists plan to make home visits to help Finley with his speech as part of a new intensive course.

Kelly said: “They have done wonders for him at the centre.

"Now they are saying they will look into what more can be done for his speech “It was a huge blow to hear he couldn’t have the operation in the St Louis.

"We were devastated because we had pinned our hopes on it and had nothing else to hang on to.

"As usual Holly House came to the rescue.”