A disabled boy has been given a wheelchair to help him get about more easily.

Six-year-old Sam Barkley is enjoying new freedom in his power chair, which was given to him by Lloyds TSB Private Banking in Haywards Heath, after staff raised more than £3,000.

Sam, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has had to share a motorised chair with other pupils at the Chailey Heritage School.

Sam, of Church Mead, Keymer, was presented with the £3,000 chair outside the bank's buildings in Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, to the surprise of his mother, Nikki Barkley, 36, who had no idea about the gift.

Sam's father, Jon Barkley, 38, was let in on the secret shortly before.

He said: "It was a surprise for Nikki. She didn't expect a big presentation when we turned up.

"These sort of items are difficult to get hold of. There is a set of criteria you have to fill if you go through social services or the NHS but for somebody to raise funds was absolutely fantastic.

"It is going to give him some independence. It has got a control stick for Sam and an attendant's control.

"The seat can be changed and modified when he gets bigger so I imagine it will last him for a good few years."

Mr Barkley said Sam, who has a two-year-old sister, Gabrielle, was a lovely little boy who made friends easily and was happy with his new chair.

He was born with cerebral palsy but had other health problems when he was younger and underwent a liver transplant when he was just six weeks old.

He described him as a bright lad who was able to communicate well by using certain signs.

Mr Barkley said: "It is going to help when he goes out and when we are in safe areas it's going to give him a bit more control.

"They have chairs at school but they are limited to a brief period a week. I am pretty sure he will get to grips with it."

Robert Dryer, of Lloyds social and charity committee, said they were always thinking up new fund-raising ideas and this time had reached their £3,000 target several months before the deadline date.

They held sponsored events, quizzes, casual clothes days and office collections.

Mr Dryer said: "One of the managers is a friend of Jon Barkley. He put it to the committee and then I organised it all.

"We auctioned a Brighton and Hove Albion football shirt and a Millwall football shirt, as well as a day off work.

"Sam looked absolutely delighted. He found the hooter on the chair and kept on hooting it. Nikki's face was a picture."