Girl, 8, has incredibly rare condition that means she is mistaken for toddler

The parents of a much-loved schoolgirl have vowed to find answers as she is one of around 50 known people in the world with a rare growth condition. Bella Cole can often be mistaken for a toddler.

But the eight-year-old actually has a super-rare genetic mutation which has affected her growth. The condition is so uncommon, she is one of only dozens of known patients to have it.

Mum Philippa Rabbitts, 36, a full-time carer, said: "Since Bella's diagnosis, we have an 'answer' but still no real answers because there is so little information out there. For your child to have such a rare condition, it's mind-blowing.

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"You don't ever think it will be you, and when it is, and you find out there's only 50 in the world, there's no real community or support groups to join compared to if it was less rare. We don't know what her future will look like but for now we're trying to make life as normal for Bella as possible.

"She has lots of friends and she is healthy and happy - but as human beings we want answers for our daughter." Bella stopped growing in the womb at 34 weeks but seemed healthy after being born, despite being small.

But she began vomiting from six weeks old and struggled with feeding - and eventually doctors inserted a feeding tube in her nose and stomach to help her gain weight. Bella, from Chelmsford, Essex, remained small compared to her peers, and suffered with hypermobility, problems with her vision, learning difficulties and dental problems.

She didn't walk until she was four and didn't talk until she was five, but didn't have an official diagnosis until she was eight - when doctors finally uncovered a super-rare genetic