A GRATEFUL mum said an emotional thank-you to children who helped build a play area for her disabled son.

Nine-year-old Paul Lewis from Portland is autistic, hyperactive, has epilepsy, a kidney condition and no sense of danger.

For years, his mother Amanda has been trying to fund and build a safe area at their Weston Road home.

Now she has praised kind-hearted youngsters who gave up their holidays to dig foundations, weed the garden and line an 8ft fence to stop nettles growing through.

Divorced Mrs Lewis, 37, is in poor health and suffers physical and mental fatigue from the strain of caring for Paul, who is traumatised after a car accident last year.

But her spirits were lifted when helping hands arrived, courtesy of a kids' club, part of the Summer of Love Christian festival.

Mrs Lewis, who also has a daughter called Jessica, said: "I am so touched normal children could help a disabled child in this way.

"I'm nearly in tears that this has come from the hands of babes. I want to say a personal thank-you to all of these children for reaching out to us, they have put professionals to shame.

"They worked so hard to get jobs done that big burly men quoted me £500 for.

"I was at my wits' end, asking social services to help me for years, but the generosity of these kids has given me the strength to carry on.

"I phoned Amanda Lowder-Cotterill from Weymouth and Portland Housing to see if there was anyone that could help me as a community project. This would not have happened without her, as she suggested getting in touch with Summer of Love."

Mrs Lewis added: "I want to thank Mark Stone, Richard Farmer, Sarah Spracklen, Tegan Smith, Sarah Jayne Briggs, Yvonne Rowe, Donald Crocker, Neville Walbridge, Chris Briggs, Olga Drake and Paul Gilhespy. Thanks also to Travis Perkins for donating building materials."

Charity campaigners have raised thousands to build a galvanised fence to protect Paul, who often escapes from his garden and runs out into the road. Mrs Lewis hopes to build a soothing sensory garden and water feature so she can open the area to other children with disabilities.