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Devin Cullen has his 3rd birthday on 12th April 2006 and as a present he's had a ride on a shetland pony live on air with BBC Radio Suffolk.

Devin had a mystery viral infection when he was 10 months old and it paralysed his spine. As a result he has diplegia which means he's got low muscle tone on his lower limbs and can't usually walk without the aid of a frame on wheels.

A few weeks ago he managed to take a couple of steps at home unaided for the first time. His mum Marie is delighted and she arranged a special birthday treat with Suffolk Action - the CSV Media organisation based at BBC Radio Suffolk in Ipswich.

Marie says horses appear to hold a fascination "When we were in hospital in Cornwall one of the first things Devin said was that a man with gee-gees was here to see him. We don't know why he said that because there are no horses near our home in Hadleigh. I think horses must be his guardian angels."

Marie rang Suffolk Action. The call was put out for someone to help Devin have his horse ride and it was Elwin Appleton from Bucklesham who answered it.

On Nick Pandolfi's morning show on BBC Radio Suffolk Devin and his family met Elwin who brought Timmy and Prince along. Both are 20 year old shetland ponies and they're around three feet tall.

Marie used to work for the Ministry of Defence and as a result she's been able to get £900 from the Civil Service Benevolent Fund to buy Devin a kitten bicycle.