THE family of a disabled boy whose powered wheelchair burst into flames are appealing for help to buy a replacement.

Catherine Willans from Fordingbridge has renewed her appeal to find £16,634.28 to replace the chair for her son Harry who has Muscular Dystrophy.

Harry Price, 12, was born with the congenital disease for which there is currently no cure. His condition is degenerative and Harry has started losing his mobility skills.

Harry had already outgrown his chair but the situation has become desperate after the wheelchair caught fire while he was at school.

Now the youngster is relying on family and friends to wheel him around in his manual chair.

Mum Catherine Willans said: “Harry had already outgrown his wheelchair which he has had for five years; it did not cater to his needs as it once did. That was clear before that the chair was on its way out, but now he can’t use it at all.

"We were limited on what we could do socially before and now that we only have access to a manual wheelchair we have become socially isolated.”

Catherine added: “The new powered chair will allow him to attend school and after school activities as it will have an extended battery life. Harry is at that age now where he wants to socialise with his friends, he loves going to the movies and has started going to youth clubs and without a new powered wheelchair this will not be possible as what 12-year-old want their mum along to hang out with their friends.

“Harry has to constantly ask for help in the manual wheelchair, which has started to alienate him. The powered wheelchair will allow him to do more things independently. With a tray for Harry to work and eat off and a fold-back controller the new powered wheelchair Harry needs would create lots more opportunities for him.”

The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is calling for more local heroes to help Harry buy a new powered wheelchair costing £19,663. A spokesman said: "Harry's previous wheelchair is now totally unusable so he has lost the only independence he had."

Harry’s family is just one of 23 in the county who need equipment totalling £64,914.

Newlife has a dedicated Hampshire Fund – newlifecharity.co.uk/Hampshire - which gives people the opportunity to help disabled children. Every penny donated or fundraised in Hampshire is guaranteed to support families in the county.