It means she has to wear two plaster casts joined together by a bolt, which doctors hope will help her right hip start to grow again.

Until the casts come off in a fortnight, mum Laura faces an anxious wait.

The 21-year-old, from Walden Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, said: 'Daisy is in a lot of pain but she is really being brave. She can't move around much because of the bolt and it's really uncomfortable at night.

'On her right hip the hip bone ball is crumbling as it's got no blood circulation.

'They have put the cast on to help the bone grow back, but the disease means the blood wasn't getting round the joint.

'If it hasn't happened we will have to go back to the consultants and a hip replacement will be a possibility.'

Daisy is being cheered up by her younger brother Charlie, two, who himself was born with talipes, or club foot.

He has to wear special boots and a bar holds them in place at night.

The boots are re-fitted at Southampton General Hospital every six months. 'Charlie is amazing,' said Mrs Reid. 'He is only a toddler but it's like he knows what's wrong so he does everything he can to help.'

With a history of similar problems in the family – Mrs Reid's father was born with dislocated hips – the family hope Daisy's early diagnosis will help her in the long run.

Mrs Reid said: 'I'm nervous for her, but she has said she wants to be a dancer, and I'm right behind her.'