WILLOWY Adam Cooper was turned into a star when he was featured in a programme about a growing syndrome.

The 18-year-old who featured on Monday's BBC documentary called Growing Up and Up, could have grown to a staggering 7ft 4in had he not had hormone injections at the age of nine.

Adam has Marfan syndrome, a disorder that affects bones, joints, the heart and eyes. He has stopped growing at 6ft 7in.

He said his family stumbled across the problem by accident.

He added: "I must have been only in Year Four at school, and it was through a routine chiropodist appointment. He picked up on it and said to go to the hospital. No one knew what Marfan was at that stage. It was extremely worrying, especially for my mum."

He added: "I have a problem with my aortic passage and take beta blockers which will halt it. I am going to be taking them for the rest of my life."

Adam, who lives in Green Leys in Downley, says he has started to get noticed around Asda supermarket where he works as a supervisor.

He added: "I had a lot of people speak to me. One woman came in, and her son is ten, and he has the same syndrome. She asked if she could make contact with my family as they keep finding it a bit difficult. I will speak to her son. I would not want anyone to go through what I went through."