A TAVISTOCK youngster is one step closer to having two working hands for the first time ever, thanks to the creation of a prototype 3D printed hand.

As reported in the Times last month, four-year-old Abbi Jillians is set to have a new hand after being born without one due to Amniotic Band Syndrome.

Her mother Julie, along with American not-for-profit organisation E-Nable — a global online community of humanitarian volunteers designing and building inexpensive and functional 3D prosthetics — put out a plea for someone with a 3D printer to print Abbi a hand.

They were greeted with a tremendous response but the family decided to work with digital fabrication laboratory FabLab, based at Plymouth College of Art, because they were keen that there should be an educational benefit from the project.

FabLab manager Ian Hankey has been busy working with E-Nable, which provides the software and pattern for all the different parts that connect together to make a fully functioning hand. They have now almost finished the first prototype, which Abbi is due to try on in the next week or two.

Julie said: 'They have made the prototype and Abbi is going to try it on soon. After talking about it for many weeks, it has now dawned on Abbi what the whole thing is about.

'The printer that FabLab used is a really basic one but it has still done the job. Ian has hit problems along the way, of course, as it is all new to him, but he was able to get in touch with the E-Nable network and speak to people with technical knowledge — it is an online support community.'

Julie said Ian has now signed up to the E-Nable network and has volunteered to make more 3D hands so other children across the world could benefit.

She said there were seven children in Britain on the waiting list for a new hand and many more across the globe.

Abbi has chosen for her hand to be printed in a girly pink colour and Julie said she cannot wait for her to try it on for the first time.

'If the 3D hand wasn't an option, Abbi would be facing an eight-hour operation which would give her something that can't even match what this 3D hand can do.

'She is going to break stuff — it is inevitable — and super glue will become my best friend if she breaks a bit of the hand to hold it together until I can get Ian to print a new part!'

The Jillians family was donated a brand new printer by 3D specialist company Midwich — worth £1,649 — which Julie has donated to FabLab to use specifically for making 3D prosthetics. The ink cartridges for the printer cost around £65 each, plus VAT, of which up to 20 are needed per printer.

Julie is keen to supply all the cartridges for the new printer and is in the process of organising a charity auction at the Duke of York in Tavistock, due to be held in February, in a bid to raise the money to buy them.

Anyone who would like to donate a raffle prize to the cause, can do so by contacting Julie on 01822 481193.