A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD schoolboy who suffers from autism has tonight raised £102 with a drawing after deciding he wanted to help refugee families.

Oliver Hall, of Bishopgarth, Stockton, used a blue pen to create 'Lost on the Road' on A4 printer paper and initially hoped to raise £5 after it was put up for sale on online auction site eBay.

In the end the Rosebrook Primary School pupil attracted 50 bids from 11 people during the five day auction period, which ended at 10.07pm tonight.

However, his mother Charlotte revealed he was unable to stay-up for the big event and was fast asleep when the deadline passed.

"He will be really pleased. It is much more thn he ever expected. He just felt like he had to do something really positive - and he has."

The money will be donated to the British Red Cross, one of the organisations working to help refugees in Europe.

Oliver decided to draw the picture after Mrs Hall, who volunteers for Justice First, which works with people seeking asylum in the North-East, explained about the hundreds of thousands fleeing war-ravaged countries.

As well as raising the £102 from his artwork, he has also set up a Virgin Giving Page which has already attracted donations of £85.

His mother added: "He was only after £5 for his picture because that's all he thought it was worth. He will be over the moon.

"He's a young boy on his own amazing journey in life, living with autism and gradually learning to cope with the challenges every day presents," she said.

"Oliver's quite shy, he doesn't like getting his photo taken and hates a fuss, but he wants to do his bit to help."