AN appeal by an Ashton-on-Mersey schoolboy to raise cash to help fund a new wheelchair for his twin brother has received international help.

Thomas and Patrick Kelly's twin cousins raised £600 by staging their own sponsored silence in support of Thomas choosing to keep "stum" for a day.

Toby and Sophie Cem, helped the appeal raise £2,400 by falling silent at home in Doha.

Paul, Thomas and Patrick's dad, said: "We were very happy to hear that Thomas and Patrick's five year old twin cousins Toby and Sophie were inspired to hold their own sponsored silence. They’re very young, so decided that half hour was challenge enough."

Patrick has muscular dystrophy and Paul said the new wheelchair, which will cost £22,000, will give a major boost to his independence.

He also said Thomas, who initially set out to raise in the region of £500, has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the appeal's supporters.

Paul said: "I asked Thomas if he’d like to say anything about his day and he told me that the first thing is to say thank you to so many generous people. Never did he imagine that he’d make so much.

"He also said that it would have been even more difficult without some of his school friends, who helped him through the day by interpreting during his long game of charades and speaking his words when he needed help. He told me what a relief it was to wake up the next morning and finally speak again."

Both Thomas and Patrick, 10, attend St Mary's Church of England Primary School in Ashton-on-Mersey and Paul said it would be "much more difficult for him to do that" if he didn't have his wheelchair.