A SCHOOLBOY has overcome a medical disorder by taming wild birds.

Mark Dixon, 10, of Queens Road West, Accrington, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) six years ago after his parents realised he was unable to relax and unwind.

Mark, who is a pupil at Peel Park Primary School, Accrington, has been able to reduce the amount of medication he has to take by calming himself by playing with the 25 birds he keeps in an outdoor aviary.

His mum Kathryn, 28, said: "Mark was diagnosed with ADHD when he was four years old. He is constantly on the go and has to take medication four times a day to control it.

"We got him interested in birds after I bought my husband a budgie as a bit of a joke.

"Mark instantly showed a real interest in them and we can’t believe the difference they have made to his life.

"He loves them and watches them for hours. He has even managed to tame seven wild budgies with the help of an expert we found on the Internet."

Mark, who is one of five children, has improved dramatically in all areas of his life.

Educationally he has made giant leaps, especially in science, proving learning difficulties can be beaten.

Now, as part of his school’s Shine Week, Mark is going to give a special talk on his birds and how he cares for them.

Mrs Dixon said: "He is over the moon about being able to share his knowledge.

"He has written a script with the help of our expert friend, Barrie Shutt, who is going to travel all the way from Cumbria for the presentation.

"He is going to talk about his favourite chick, Lemon, which he reared from birth, and some chicks that he helped me to rear after they were attacked by another bird.

"I have never seen anyone so at one with another living creature. He walks into the aviary and all the budgies come to him and clean his hair. They think he is one of them."

During his talk at the school Mark is going to ask his friends to come up with a name for one of his new chicks.

The chick will then be known by the winning name and registered at shows as being owned by Peel Park Primary School.