SPECIALIST equipment to help a disabled seven-year-old has been funded through the sales of 5p plastic bags.

Dylan James, who lives in the town centre, has a neurodevelopmental condition and significant sensory needs.

The seven-year-old’s condition means that he has no awareness of danger, requires support with his posture and becomes easily frustrated because he cannot communicate – making car journeys a ‘nightmare’.

But the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, a charity that provides specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illnesses, has funded a car seat to keep Dylan and his family safe on the road – thanks to the proceeds of 5p plastic bags from River Island stores.

Mum Vicky James said: “Dylan can become quite fractious and attention-seeking in the car.

“Long journeys in particular were a nightmare because he could get his arms out of his booster seat harness and try to get his sister, putting everyone’s safety at risk.

“We struggled for a number of years to access a specialist car seat through our local authority but they couldn’t help us – we already knew about Newlife because we had been using its sensory toy loan service so applied to them for a grant for a car seat.

“Dylan loves his new car seat and is very comfortable in it – journeys are now much less stressful.”

The new car seat provides Dylan with postural support for his low muscle tone, with the youngster also unable to wriggle out of his safety harness.

Specialist car seats are significantly more expensive than standard ones, with Dylan’s coming at a cost of £665.

Shiela Brown, chief executive of the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, said: “As local authority budget cuts continue to bite more and more families are turning to charities like Newlife for specialist equipment which can help transform young lives.

“Having the national support of River Island is an enormous boost for us.”