He may not have even learned to crawl yet, but Oliver Pole has already made British medical history.

The 21-month-old is the first child in the country to have a pioneering form of heart surgery. It saved his life.

Oliver's parents today spoke of their relief after surgeons at Birmingham Children's Hospital said the operation had been a success.

Mum, Janice, said: "At last, we are beginning to be able to start to enjoy a normal life."

Oliver was born with a serious heart defect which meant blood was not being pumped around his body properly.

Parents Janice and Matt faced an agonising decision.

They had to decide whether to allow the complex surgery or pin their hopes on a transplant – which may not have been a long-term solution.

Otherwise, they were told, Oliver's condition was so severe he might not live to see his fifth birthday.

Eventually, his parents agreed to the procedure, which has only been carried out three times before in the world.

The four-hour operation involved surgeons "switching" the pumping chambers in Oliver's heart round to allow the blood to flow better.

Janice, 40, said: "We decided to go with the operation because it could be done immediately and if it didn't work there would still be the option of a transplant."

The operation was carried out in January. Surgeons monitoring Oliver's progress since said it has been successful.

Bill Brawn, consultant heart surgeon at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "Oliver was in so much trouble because of the restricted blood flow.

"His condition is very unusual and, without treatment, he would not have been able to survive for very long. This is the fourth time we have performed this operation, but the first time on a child from Britain.

"By switching the heart round, the stronger chamber is now pumping the blood round the body and the weaker one is able to receive the de-oxygenated blood and pump it to the lungs.

"I saw Oliver a couple of weeks ago and he is doing brilliantly."

Life has turned around for the family who also have a son Jacob, five.

Janice, a data entry clerk, said: "The hospital and staff have been wonderful.

"It's hard to believe that Oliver, who was so poorly, is now doing so well.

"He is making up for lost time and has started to crawl, talk more and walk."