TEENAGER Paige Cox is hoping to receive the ultimate Christmas present this year - a bionic arm which will transform her life.

Paige, age 18, who lives in Wiveliscombe, has been fund-raising throughout the year with a GoFundMe appeal for the £20,000 device and is now less than £5,000 away from the target.

Her father, chimney sweep Jon Cox, a former Royal Navy Reservist for 21 years, said: “I am very proud of her.

“She set up the GoFundMe page herself and did it all, and I have just been helping chip away at it.”

Mr Cox said the Hero Pro arm would be made by Bristol firm Open Bionics Foundation and once the go-ahead was given it would only take a week to be finished.

He said: “So, I would like to get it all in place before Christmas.”

Paige, who was born without a right hand, hopes the new arm will allow her to achieve an ambition to serve in the Armed Forces.

She said: “A Hero Pro would be a transformative tool for me.

“With advanced technology, it would allow me to perform tasks more easily and effectively.

“The ability to control the arm through my own subtle muscle movements means I could engage in activities I have always wanted to do but found challenging.”

Paige, who is an Army Cadet and loves playing cricket, said the arm would help her take part more fully in life and enjoy activities with friends and family.

She said: “While I have learned to adapt and find creative solutions for everyday tasks, there are limitations I still encounter.

“Simple actions like cooking, or participating in sports can be difficult, and I often feel the impact on my confidence and overall well-being.

“Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me closer to achieving my goal and transforming my life.”