A mother is delighted with her son's response to treatment for cerebral palsy, paid for with help from readers of The Argus.

Mandy Bourne appealed for help to raise funds earlier this year to pay for pioneering physiotherapy treatment for her son, Sam, at the Advance Centre, a charity in East Grinstead.

Mandy, 34, of Ringles Cross, Uckfield, said more than £300 was donated by kind-hearted readers, which meant Sam, who is brain damaged, could start the treatment.

She said: "People have been so kind. We would like to thank readers for their donations.

"We have noticed improvements in Sam since we started going to the centre six months ago."

Mandy is struggling to cope with looking after three-year-old Sam, his healthy twin sister Charlotte and six-year-old Georgia, while trying to raise at least £10,000 a year to fund the treatment, which is not available on the NHS.

She has written more than 50 letters to local organisations appealing for help and her husband, Paul, a postman, has taken part in a sponsored walk.

But she needs to keep on raising the money for Sam's condition to improve.

She said: "Life is hectic and very difficult at times. Sam needs a lot of attention and his sisters fight for attention as well.

"Any help with fund-raising would be fantastic."

Sam's treatment began in May and includes exercises which Mandy has been trained to do with him at home.

She said: "I could not believe how lucky I was to find the centre, especially as it is only half an hour away from where we live.

"Sam can now sit up straighter and hold his head up more.

"Eventually, it is going to make his life, and all of our lives, better."

Anyone interested in making a donation should contact the Advance Centre at 6 Station Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1DJ, or call 01342 311137.