The mum of an autistic boy who issued an appeal to find friends for him says she has been “overwhelmed” by the response.

Catherine Butters, of Lady Winter Drive, Minster, posted on Facebook seeking pals for 11-year-old Ashley, who also has ADHD.

She was spurned into action after Ashley’s older brother Christopher, who also suffered from the condition, apparently took his own life.

Scroll down for audio

Since her post was publicised on Kent Online, she has been inundated with responses from mums and dads from all over the UK with children in similar situations.

The 49-year-old said: “I’ve had a constant flow of people messaging me on Facebook, requesting to be friends.

“I’m overwhelmed with how caring people are - I’ve had some lovely messages.

“Ashley hasn’t got a huge understanding of what’s going on, but he seems to be quite happy about it, it’s quite exciting for him.”

Mrs Butters originally posted the friend appeal on December 27 after a trip to a park near the family’s home where a group of children made fun of Ashley.

The mum has also experienced first-hand the tragedy that can result from the isolation felt by those living with severe learning disabilities.

In 2011, her older son Christopher Wakeman, 23, fell to his death from a flyover bridge on the A249 near Quinton – something Mrs Butters believes he intended to do after struggling with his condition.

She added: “It’s heartbreaking for a mum that no one wants to play with him.

“I’m worried about his future after what happened to Christopher – I’m worried about a world of isolation.”

Mrs Butters, who is Meadowfields pupil Ashley’s full-time carer, has previously visited schools in the area after her eldest son passed away to speak candidly about autism.

She is hoping schools and colleges in the UK will increase awareness and educational lessons on the condition and other disabilities, adding: “It’s going to be easy to find a friend for Ashley now, we’ve got so many people that want to be friends.

“I think it’s a good thing it’s going to help with the awareness side too, so it’s quite promising.”

Mrs Butters gave evidence at the inquest into her son’s death in November 2011.

Her son Christopher Wakeman escaped from Byfield Care Home, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, after getting separated from his one-to-one support worker.

A short time later he fell from the nearby Quinton flyover bridge on the A249.

Although in June 2012 the coroner recorded a narrative verdict into Christopher’s death, Mrs Butters said she believed he intended to take his own life.

She told the hearing that despite his condition being so severe that he was unable to communicate verbally, she was able to tell how he was feeling from his eyes.

In the weeks prior to his death, she said they “didn’t have a sparkle” and they “looked quite sad”.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Butters added: “I suppose deep down I understand why she [coroner Patricia Harding] couldn’t give a suicide verdict, but I do believe Christopher wanted out of the autism.”