A BRAVE four-year-old boy has got his Christmas wish for a new wheelchair thanks to the “tremendous generosity” of the public.

An appeal for cash to pay for a new wheelchair for Jonty Smith, who lives in Pershore, reached its target total of £8,858 after a final fund-raiser yesterday.

Jonty’s parents Jane and Ian thanked everybody involved with grandmother Sue Keen saying the appeal had “brought the community together”.

The family and the appeal’s fund-raising coordinator Trudy Burge have been “overwhelmed” by the support from people, in some cases with strangers in the street handing them money.

It has been just six weeks since the appeal was launched to get little Jonty a chair which can help give him a measure of independence. The youngster, who has three brothers, suffers with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and left hemiplegia – meaning the limbs of his left side are severely weakened.

But he has won fans by the bucketload with his cheeky, happy outlook and brought tears to many eyes when he said a simple “thank you” at the final fund-raiser at Pershore Naval Social Club.

The generosity of the public means there is enough money for a wheelchair rain cover, yearly services and extra batteries and Mrs Burge and Jane Keen-Smith are also going to discuss whether any of the excess money could be split with other causes.

With the money raised the chair is “hopefully” due to arrive at the end of November and well before Christmas, making it the perfect present.

Mrs Keen-Smith said: “The most wonderful thing is the way everyone has supported him throughout, and we want to thank them all.

“He’s a bit of a minor celebrity now – every time he sees a newspaper he’s asking if he’s in it.”

There will be a public thank you in Chapman Court, Plum Alley, near the Asda supermarket, at noon on Saturday, December 11.