VIDEO: Actor getting a grasp on roles after he had his fingers replaced – with toes

An actor who had his toes chopped off and stitched onto his hand says his disability has helped rather than hindered his acting career.

Richard Stott was born with a rare birth defect called Poland Syndrome, which causes webbing to the fingers and deformity.

He has had around 15 operations to date – the biggest of which saw the second toe on each foot removed and grafted to his left hand when he was 11.

But rather than becoming withdrawn, 28-year-old Richard has embraced it, and is now using it to his advantage to get niche roles. He said: “I was having a hard time using my hand when I was younger, but I didn’t notice it. “My feet look exactly the same. People don’t notice at all – there’s hardly any scarring. It doesn’t affect me.”

At school, in Beverley, East Yorkshire, Richard’s disability caused no problems – even during PE lessons.