LIFE for a six-year-old disabled boy has been made easier by a new specially-designed chair.

Riley Kerr, from Willington, County Durham, suffers from autism, epilepsy, spina bifida, and hydrocephalus, and finds it painful to sit in his wheelchair.

His family were going through a difficult time as the youngster had recently had brain surgery, and was struggling to get comfortable following the operation.

Everyday events like watching TV, eating dinner and relaxing in the garden were proving difficult. Riley was using an air bed for comfort, which wasn’t providing the best support.

Vicky Cameron, a family friend who worked at Bringing Back a Smile, a charity based near Spennymoor which supports adults and children with disabilities and life threatening illnesses throughout the region, helped raise funds for a new P-pod chair.

It is a specialised chair made to bring comfort to people with conditions like Riley’s. His mum described it as being like a bean bag that has been specially moulded.

The charity set a goal to raise £2,000 for a new chair, but a woman from Essex saw the fundraiser online and contacted the charity.

Her son had a P-pod chair, but she was putting it up for sale for £600.

In total the charity managed to get it for £550 with an £80 transport fee.

Kevin Hill of Bringing Back a Smile, said: “We got very lucky to get it at the price we did.”

Spina bifida a condition in which the spinal cord of a baby doesn't develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. As children grow, it can make walking difficult and lying and sitting down very uncomfortable.

Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain.

One of the benefits of the chair is that it is lightweight so that the family can get Riley out into the garden more easily.

The family has a hot tub in the garden for Riley to relax in, as the heat and the bubbles are good for easing muscle pain.

Riley’s mother Lesleyanne said: “Riley loves the chair, we can’t get him out of it.”