Volunteers have rallied round to create a safe garden for a schoolboy who uses a wheelchair.

Tomas Powell is severely disabled having been born with an extremely rare genetic disease.

The seven-year-old's parents Emma and Matthew Powell recently moved to a rented home in Rainham because they had outgrown their specially-adapted accommodation.

But with summer months approaching, their steep, unlevel garden, in Thompson Close, is too dangerous for Tomas to venture outdoors.

In desperation Emma, 33, put out an appeal for a landscape gardener to help but quotes between £1,000 and £1,500 proved too expensive for the couple, who also have a daughter, Paisley, aged two.

Emma's dad Kelvyn Stewart, who runs the family's bathroom design business in Whitstable, then suggested "let's do it ourselves".

Emma took to social media for help and suddenly many came forward to offer their services.

Emma said: "The response was marvellous. We have somebody with a digger and materials. We have had offers to clear the waste."

The makeover day is earmarked for Friday (March 13) when a workforce will be transforming their plot.

Emma and mum Debbie Stewart will be tasked with serving teas, coffees and bacon butties.

She said: "When we moved in during October, we only really considered the indoors. It was only when we looked outside and saw how overgrown with nettles and steep the garden was [that we thought again]."

Emma added: "The outdoors is very important to Tomas and for us to be together as a family in the fresh air during the summer.

"It helps with his stimulation and well-being. Tomas is unable to communicate, although we know when he's not happy, because he sticks his tongue out. He's a cheeky chap.

"He has got a swing that he has not even been able to use."

Tomas, a pupil at Abbey Court Special School, Strood, was diagnosed with Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease (PMD) which hinders the growth of fatty tissue around the nerves.

In his early months, he underwent surgery for a number of issues affecting his larynx, hearing and motor skills.

Research carried out in America shows that one in 500,000 babies all over the world have PMD and it is so rare that little is known about the condition.

With this in mind, Emma and Matthew, 34, a shop manager, launched their Triumph for Tomas charity in 2014 to raise awareness and fund research.