A BRAVE little girl who is battling a rare genetic disorder which can cause her to suffer up to six epileptic seizures a day has started school.

Five-year-old Hannah Porter was waved off by mum Alison this morning for her first day at Craigmarloch in Port Glasgow.

The Gourock youngster was born with tuberous sclerosis, which causes complex health problems including benign tumours on the brain, sudden seizures and learning difficulties.

Hannah has spent her young life in and out of hospital clinics and may yet have to face surgery.

Today she is all smiles as she joins her new friends in primary one for the first time.

Mum Alison, 34, from Oxford Avenue in Gourock, said: "She can take up up six seizures a day and you just never get used to it.

"Just now is a good time, we get two to three a week.

"It is part of the risks of tuberous sclerosis.

"You just never know when you are going to get that phone call and you have to rush her to hospital in an ambulance.

"It happened when she was at nursery.

"I know Craigmarloch is a brilliant school and I feel confident that they can handle it all.

"We are all so excited for Hannah starting there."

Hannah was three weeks old when Alison and dad Gerard, 38, were told that she had TS.

She also faces speech delays, autism and other complications.

Qualified nurse Alison said: "I think as we get the seizures under control and her speech comes on Hannah will get less frustrated.

"When we were getting seizures every day she went in to hospital for a scan.

"She could get an operation to remove tumours, but that comes with risk.

"The seizures are less just now, so we will wait and see what happens."

On the last day of the holidays Hannah spent time at the park playing with her two-year-old brother Thomas.

She recently graduated from Hillend Nursery, which specialises in care for children with disabilities.

Hannah was sent lots of good luck messages yesterday, including from friends at local autism charity Kerr's Journey.

Alison says the group set up by local mum Laura Graham has been a lifeline for the family as it works to make Inverclyde more friendly for children with disabilities.

Alison added: "When we went to get Hannah's shoes we were at Smiths in Greenock during autism friendly hour and it was brilliant, we got all her uniform from there.

"They are terrific."