A COUPLE have spoken of the bravery of their young son who suffers from debilitating genetic condition which leaves him unable to sit up and talk or breathe and eat by himself.

Despite being stricken by profound muscle weakness, three-year-old Charlie Thornton is bright and intelligent.

His parents, Stephen and Kay Thornton of South Moor, Stanley, are now trying to raise money to get a specially-adapted van to get him back to nursery school, where he has thrived.

Friends are preparing to stage a charity football match at the weekend to help after Charlie outgrew his special car seat.

Mrs Thornton said: “When he went into hospital at the age five months with a chest infection doctors did not believe he would reach his first birthday, because he was so poorly.”

Charlie, who spent nine months in hospital, was diagnosed at the age of one as having congenital myopathy.

She added: “We were devastated, but he turning is four this year and has done really well.

“He is that determined – it is what has got him through a lot.

“He is the happiest little boy. He never lets anything get to him. He is very bright. His brain isn’t affected at all.”

Charlie is unable to communicate, after a tracheotomy affected his vocal chords, but he can understand everything and lets his parents know what he wants through facial expressions and gestures. He has been referred for assessment for a computer to help him communicate.

Mrs Thornton said their other children - Callum, 13, Phoebe, 10, Shay, seven and Grace, five - had all been “fantastic” with Charlie.

Mrs Thornton said: “We take it day by day really. He could live for the next ten years and he might not - it’s a case of making the best of him while he is here.”

For now, the Thorntons are keen to get him back to Beechdale Nursery School in Consett, where staff have been specially trained to help care for him.

Mr Thornton said: “He has outgrown his special car seat and is now completely housebound."

A charity football match has been organised by Keith Franklin, with kick-off at the Riverside Football Club, in Chester-le-Street, at 1.45pm on Saturday - followed by a social with raffle tombola at the Pelton Crown.

The Thorntons hope to raise about £5,000 for transport. Anyone who wishes to donate can do so on www.gofundme.com/n15uss.