Owen suffers from severe brachiocephaly – flat head syndrome – for which there is no treatment available on the NHS, prompting his parents Gemma and Dean to devote their energies to raising the money.

After appearing in the Free Press and running a day of fund-raising events in Flamborough, they raised a staggering £3,501.35 to pay for a cranial helmet to mould Owen's head into a normal shape.

"If it wasn't for all the people of Flamborough and Bridlington helping us, we would never have been able to afford this treatment," said Gemma.

"I was excited and apprehensive when I took him for his first fitting but he's settled into it really well.

"Some people do stare a bit at him when I take him out with the helmet on but it's not for ever and it's better than him being stared at for the rest of his life because of the shape of his head."

Owen will have to wear the helmet for a minimum of six months and will return to a private clinic in Leeds every couple of weeks to have his progress monitored.

The helmet will also be gradually tightened to ease Owen's head into the shape it should be.

Owen also received a large, furry gorilla toy from Free Press reader Cybil Mcholl who won it in a raffle but wanted a child to have it.

Dean's aunt Sonya Tweedale, who helped organise the Flamborough fund-raising day, said: "We just want to let everybody know how grateful we are and how much their help has meant to us."