A mum has described controversial millionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed as a “hero” after he paid a small fortune to educate her special needs son at a private school.

Speaking after the death of the Egyptian-born tycoon, who died on August 30 aged 94, Sharon Jackson recalled how she could not afford the fees at Princess Diana’s former boarding school when, aged 12, Andy needed a specialist education to cope with his needs.

While Andy passed an interview at West Heath in Sevenoaks, Mrs Jackson could not fork out the £60,000-a-year fees and the local authority refused to help with funding.

But within 48 hours, the deputy head had contacted the former boss of Harrods and he agreed on a bursary paying every penny for the next six years.

Mrs Jackson, who lives in Hoo, near Rochester, said: “I couldn’t believe it. I felt as though I had won the lottery.

“He paid for the whole of his education and gave him opportunities that he never would have had.”

His Al Fayad Charitable Foundation bought the school in 1998 and dedicated it to the memory of both the Princess and his son Dodi Al Fayad who died in the same tragic car crash the year before.

“I know he got a bad press, but we saw the other side of him, like all the charity work he never talked about...”

The Egyptian-born tycoon was a regular visitor, dropping by in his helicopter, sometimes with celebrities including Madonna, Gloria Hunniford, Chris Tarrant and Harvey from So Solid Crew.

At Christmas, he invited Andy and his classmates to the Knightsbridge store to choose presents and they enjoyed swimming trips at pools of his friends such as Lord and Lady Astor.

Mrs Jackson, 53, a newly-elected Medway Labour councillor, said: “I know he got a bad press, but we saw the other side of him, like all the charity work he never talked about.

“As soon as he stepped in the door he was at the same level as the pupils. He had a soft spot for all of them.”

Mrs Jackson took Andy, who suffered a traumatic childhood, out of Hundred of Hoo School because he was being bullied.

She said: “His first turning point was coming into care and the second was getting a place at the school.”

Over the years Mrs Jackson has adopted five children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition which affects babies whose mothers drank during pregnancy.

Sharon tweeted after news of his death was announced: "I am glad he entered my life and Andy's, both were enriched by having him in them.

"So I know the bad press you get... But you will always be a HERO in my eyes."

Both she and Andy, who is now 31 and lives near her in Hoo, plan to lay flowers at a shrine at his Surrey estate home this weekend.

She said: “We would have gone to the funeral but it was over before we knew about it.”

Andy, who is a volunteer, working with special education needs pupils in the PE department of Hoo Primary has posted his own personal tweet.

He said: “RIP Mohamed Al Fayad, you have played a big part in my life paying for my schooling at West Heath, still remember when he came to the school in a helicopter and gave all the students gift bags. You will be forever in my thoughtsxx”

West Heath principal, Photini Bohacek, said: “It is with great sadness and a personal sense of loss that we record the death of our founding patron.

“He together with Val May, the first appointed principal of the school, set about creating a unique, educational environment, directly supporting young people whose educational lives had been adversely affected by loss, bereavement and mental health issues.”