A teenager from Witney has become the first patient to have pioneering treatment to fix her faulty heart.

Laura Brookes, 14, of Elm Close, was born with congenital problems, which left her breathless, and would usually be rectified with lengthy open-heart surgery, followed by a long stay in hospital.

The Henry Box School pupil, pictured, was treated by German specialist Dr Phillip Bonhoeffer, the pioneer of a new technique, which took 90 minutes, and allowed her to go home the next day.

She will be able to go back to school after the half-term break.

Recovering at home, Laura said: "I will be able to do more stuff than I used to do.

"I couldn't run up the stairs without getting tired, but I can already do that. I've joined the Class Act drama group, and I'll be able to dance properly.

"I was fine with the treatment -- it was my mum and dad who were worried. I skipped down to the theatre!"

Laura was born with a hole in her heart, caused by a condition called tetralogy of Fallot.

She also suffered from a defect doctors believed was unique to her, where her left lung had been not linked to her pulmonary artery -- vital for transporting blood from the heart to collect oxygen for the whole body.

The hole was blocked off by surgeons when she was six days old, and a faulty valve was replaced with an artificial one when she was a year old.

But she needed further treatment before the replacement valve wore out.

Dr Bonhoeffer performed his new procedure at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, assisted by Dr Neil Wilson, a heart specialist from the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

During the treatment, which he pioneered in 1999, a catheter carrying a deflated mini balloon was pushed up Laura's leg to the heart.

Once in place, the balloon was inflated and released to act as a valve, and the catheter was removed.

Laura's mother Teresa, 55, said: "I was just kissing the doctors after her treatment. Even they were worried, and did the procedure at a certain time, so a surgeon was standing by just in case it went wrong.

"We were more prepared for a six-hour operation, but she was out after one and a half hours. We're absolutely thrilled."

Her husband Nigel, 42, said: "Dr Bonhoeffer has carried out these operations before, but we believe this was the first time in the world for Laura's condition.

"If she had had open heart surgery, she would have been in intensive care, and spent several days in hospital.

"But she's feeling fantastic."