Kind-hearted neighbours and generous readers have rallied round in record time to ease the plight of a 6ft 1in cerebral palsy sufferer and his desperate mum.

Diabetic Sharon Johnson, who is only 5ft 5ins tall, appealed for help because she was struggling to cope with her gentle giant son's wheelchair on the hilly streets of Bradford.

Fifteen-year-old Benedict is still growing and the mum of four feared her own health was starting to suffer from the stresses and strains of trying to push her strapping son around.

Now the kindness and concern of Telegraph & Argus readers has helped her to raise more than £4,000 for a special electric wheelchair just weeks after we reported her plight.

Mrs Johnson, 36, of Gondal Court, Little Horton, Bradford, is a full-time carer for Benedict, who has cerebral palsy.

She set up the Ben Johnson's Wheelchair Fund to raise more than £4,000 to buy the specialist chair for the Bowling Special School student.

Since the family's plight was highlighted in the T&A, dozens of readers have helped their case by fundraising or donating money.

A pledge of £1,000 from Bradford businessman David Crabtree set the ball rolling and a donation of £2,500 from businesswoman Tracey Shearman made a significant impact on the fundraising efforts.

Mrs Johnson said: "Everybody has been absolutely lovely.

"Mrs Shearman came round to our house with the cheque and met Ben - it was just brilliant.

"She just said Here you go, get it in the bank'.

"Now we have all the money I have actually rung the chair people up and they are coming out on July 3 to make sure the chair is the right size for Ben.

"Ben is really pleased. He was so disappointed last week when we went to get a different manual chair for him and he thought it was going to be the electric chair.

"Life will just be so much easier when we get it.

"I would just like to say thank you to everybody who has helped."

Mrs Shearman, a director of The Folding Sliding Door Company, in Hopbine Avenue, West Bowling, Bradford, said the issue was very close to her heart.

The 35-year-old, of Western Place, Queensbury, said: "I have actually got a 14-year-old son who has cerebral palsy.

"I had seen the first appeal in the paper and when I got the paper again there was another appeal.

"I saw how much they had raised and I thought we would top it up.

"We do sponsor cricket clubs and children's rugby league teams but this is close to my heart and we know Ben is going to benefit from getting this chair.

"If Mrs Johnson has got the charity until the end of the year there are always things children with special needs need and us parents have to supply this, so I recommended her to keep on raising money.

"I have raised money for my son Jordan, and so I know how hard it is. That is why I am just so pleased we could help."

Tong School, which Ben's twin Zac and younger brother Sam attend, has arranged a Race for Life and a rounders match between pupils and teachers to raise money for the charity.