SCOTLAND becoming the first part of Britain to screen babies for a rare muscle-wasting condition is a “game-changer,” campaigners say.

Tony and Carrie Pearson’s daughter Grayce was around six months old when she stopped being able to move her legs.

She was eventually diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), but earlier treatment could have staved off its worst effects, prompting the family to campaign for routine national screening.

That campaign has now paid off with the launch today of a two-year screening pilot, funded with £95,000 in Scottish government cash and £435,000 from pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Mr Pearons hailed it as “a game-changer” and urged the rest of Britain to follow suit: “It’s £4 to test a baby for SMA.”

Welcoming the move, SMA UK’s Giles Lomax said: “These babies will now have the opportunity to grow up without lifelong healthcare needs and the complexity and challenges of living with SMA.”

Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I thank SMA UK and local campaigners who have worked so hard to highlight this issue, and Novartis for its funding.”