Television viewers across the nation shared the joy of a family from Longfield last night after their DIY SOS call was answered.

Charlie Russell, 13, of Hartley Bottom Road, is blind and suffers from epilepsy and spastic quadriplegia, the most severe form of cerebral palsy, which renders him unable to walk, talk, feed himself or even support his own head.

Life at home was difficult for Charlie, but things have changed for the better thanks to the DIY SOS team.

For nine days the BBC show renovated and reconfigured the family’s 115-year-old cottage as part of its Big Build series.

The improvements included a bathroom fitted with an adjustable bath for easier access and a hoisting mechanism in his bedroom that allows him to move to and from his bed with greater ease.

The transformation took place in October.

The episode aired on BBC One last night and brought back the emotions for Charlie’s mum Jenny Watts, 38, who wept with joy after seeing her new home.

She said: “We knew they were doing it but we had to keep everything quiet and not tell anyone. It was a case of going away and coming back to a completely different house.

“We got much more than we asked for but the whole process was about Charlie and getting what we needed for him.”

Charlie, parents Jenny and Scott, and his two older brothers, Bradley, 19, and Danny, 18, all left ahead of the work, which was carried out by a group of more than 200 tradesmen who volunteered their skills, time and materials during the build.

His family had been trying to raise more than £100,000 to renovate the home before the BBC stepped in, with the help of the Friends of Shelby Newstead charity.

Miss Watts said: “None of the other stuff mattered; it was about making it safer for Charlie. Everything else has been a bonus.

“For him it’s a lot more comfortable because I don’t need to carry him upstairs anymore. We’ve got him the facilities to move more comfortably and safer now. The effect it’s had has been amazing.”

The family are hosting a fun day at New Ash Green Pavilion, in Punch Croft Road, at 4pm on Saturday to thank everyone involved in the build.