A NEIGHBOURHOOD fundraising campaign has been launched to help a nine-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer lead a normal life.

Alex Hook was given a new lap top computer by the social services department of Blackburn with Darwen Council just before Easter after his first computer packed up.

But now neighbours from Hereford Road are joining in to rally round to help raise enough cash for two new wheel chairs and give the youngster "a truly normal life".

The family-of-four have been struggling on limited benefits to provide care for the avid Blackburn Rovers fan and sports fanatic, which has left them "feeling trapped".

But generous and good-hearted neighbours have decided to pull together in the "most unbelievable act of good will" to raise the £3,500 needed to buy two new wheel chairs - an all terrain and a specialist sports chair.

Mother-of-two, Heather, is also a full-time carer to her husband, Nigel, who suffers from Degenerative Disc Disease.

She said: "All the years of looking after Alex have been a real fight. Nothing is made easy and you feel like you have to push and push to get anything.

"To hear that people are just coming to us to help because they want to is just unbelievable."

Alex was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 18 months and now struggles to walk.

Coun Dorothy Walsh for the Higher Croft Ward has used her powers to appeal to the council for more funding by launching a poster campaign in the town hall.

And neighbour Colin Greenwood, who raised money last year for the disease foundation following the death of his son, has organised a sponsored 32-mile walk.

Heather said: "Alex loves cubs and we try to provide him with the very best. But last time he went away to camp I just could not cope. We can not even have a beach holiday because the wheel chair he has now just sinks."

Alex attends a main stream school, nearby St Thomas School in Newton Street and Coun Walsh said: "This is a family that would never ask for anything and he is such a wonderful little boy who just deserves to find his own level of life.

"I think everybody feels that there should be more help for these children but you don't always realise how much until it comes into your own arena."

Jim McCarthy, as provincial head of Chorley-based Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes has adopted the boy for his year's fundraising.

He said: "We always try and pick a child to help because they have such a long way before they grow up and the parents need as much help as possible.

"When I looked at Alex I could not think of anything else and I will do everything to help him."

The sponsored walk organised by Hereford Road neighbours and work colleagues from Pentland Distribution Centre in Blackburn will leave from The Red Lion Pub in Blackburn Road to the boat yard in Chorley on April 27.