By Alex Jee

A young boy with cerebral palsy has been presented with a brand new tricycle, after several groups banded together to donate money to his cause.

Nathaniel Hurley, 12, from Lombardy Drive, Maidstone, has been unable to exercise for years after outgrowing his previous tricycle.

His mother, Sam Hurley, said:"We bought his old trike when he was about six, and because he outgrew that about two years ago, he hasn't been able to properly get out on one for several years.

"We'd taken him to try out a few, but he could only get about 20 minutes and then we'd have to return them."

The family found the perfect recumbent trike for Nathaniel, but the price tag of £4,000 proved to be unaffordable, which lead to Sam contacting the Rotary Club of Maidstone.

Robert Wicken, previously chairman and 33-year member of the club, said: "One of the Maidstone Rotary members saw Sam's post on Facebook, and I thought it would be brilliant to get other clubs involved.

"The club has been doing charity parking for 26 years in Maidstone, where we ask people in our private car parks to donate at least £2 for a full day of parking, over three weekends leading up to Christmas.

"We raised about £1,600 last year and £750 of this went towards Nathaniel's tricycle.

"Overall, Maidstone Rotary Club, Maidstone Riverside, Maidstone Lions and Bennett Pain Trust each contributed £750 to add to the £1,000 put forward by Nathaniel's parents."

The money was raised just before Christmas, and Nathaniel was able to pick his brand new trike up on Friday, at a presentation at The Corwallis Suite, Courtenay Road, Tovil.

Sam said: "It was a wonderful feeling, the smile on his face was amazing to see.

"After he tried it out, he said to me 'do we have to give it back now, mum?' He couldn't quite believe it was all for him!"

"He's been performing with the Maidstone Gang Show, doing some acting, singing and dancing, so after he's recovered from the strain of that we're looking forward to all going out!

"Nathaniel can be a speed demon when he wants to be!"