THE people of Harlow have raised £2,000 to help a schoolboy suffering from muscular dystrophy after reading about his plight in the Citizen.

Clifford Edwards, 13, lives in Mallows Green, Harlow, with his grandparents Kath, 58, and John, 64, who recently found they could no longer lift their grandson into the car.

This meant Clifford could not go swimming, or even shopping. But now, thanks to local organisations and Citizen readers, enough money has been raised to fit a hoist for the car.

Finance staff at Nortel Networks in London Road gave the appeal its first boost with a £500 pledge from the company's charity fund the first donation the fund has made for 18 months.

Administration support worker Ethel Brooker said staff decided to help Clifford because "it was something local".

She added: "We've always looked at the local newspapers for something where we could make a difference."

Then Harlow Lions and the Harlow Round Table stepped in, both donating £500, bringing the total, including money donated by readers, to £1,625.

Harlow Lions member David Perry said: "Harlow Lions are pleased to be able to make life easier for Clifford and his family by passing on money donated by local people."

And Harlow Round Table fundraising officer Brian Barker said: "The money that was used for Clifford came from three windscreen washes we held last year at Hastingwood Services.

"Harlow Round Table will always aim to support local charities.

"We felt this was a worthwhile cause and it was a way of getting money that was collected locally back into the community."

Motability, a national registered charity which helps disabled people and their families to become mobile, decided to make up the difference.

The charity, with offices in Station Approach, Harlow, also arranged and supervised the installation of the hoist.