A BRAVE teenager who lost his leg to cancer has passed his driving test at the first attempt.

Tadcaster Grammar School student Adam Hudson is now looking forward to hitting the open road once he gets insured on his mum's car.

The 17-year-old first discovered he had bone cancer in his right leg when he was 11 and underwent four years of painful treatment.

Last year he suffered a relapse and had to have all but nine inches of his leg removed, which resulted in him missing his GCSE exams.

Speaking at the family home, in Horseman Drive, Copmanthorpe, Adam's mother, Julie, said: "Apparently it is very unusual to have it return in the same leg.

"But he has been absolutely brilliant and maintained his sense of humour."

Tadcaster Grammar School has launched a fundraising campaign to buy him a new prosthetic leg, which Adam says is "the nearest you can get to a human leg".

The computerised leg, which will cost more than £10,000, contains a microprocessor and is fitted with sensors to monitor what the other leg is doing.

It will give Adam a great deal more freedom of movement and will help him enjoy his hobbies of fishing and shooting.

Adam said: "I could probably get by on the one I have now, but I think you should always go for the best if you can."

Pupils and staff at the school have raised more than £5,000 for Adam in just over six weeks.

Headmaster Geoff Mitchell raised £1,000 by dressing up as a dinner lady to serve the school's 1,200 pupils their lunch.

Mr Mitchell said Adam was an "incredible boy" whose courage and determination were a lesson for everybody.

Adam plans to return to school in September, when he will join his friends in the sixth form, studying business and information technology.

If you would like to make a donation to the Adam Hudson appeal, contact Tadcaster Grammar School on 01937 833466.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, April 07, 2003