THE family of the little Melksham girl who needs a new wheelchair have been touched by the amount of support and help they have been offered.

Nina Leonard, four, has cerebral palsy and her family need to raise £2,000 for a chair as well as £1,800 for a specialised mattress.

Since Nina's story appeared in the Wiltshire Times kindhearted people have donated over £100 and come forward offering help with money and fundraising.

Nina's mother Elaine Leonard said: "It is so touching that people will respond like this to help a little girl most of them have never met."

Trowbridge firm Airofreem, part of Airsprung Beds, offered to provide Nina with a mattress but unfortunately the type she needs is too specialised.

Mrs Leonard said: "Someone from the company just turned up at my husband's work. It is a real shame that it isn't the sort we can use, but it was lovely they offered and we would like to thank them very much."

Nina has dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which means she cannot use her arms or legs or sit unaided and has problems with muscle control, leaving her needing 24-hour care.

The brave little girl has defied doctors' predictions by learning to smile and talk and by qualifying to start at a mainstream school, Lowbourne Infants, this year.

At the moment she cannot sit in her outdoor chair for more than 15 minutes so the family, including Rachel, 17 and Jacob, five, can't all go out together and her family fear the lack of a chair will limit the extent to which she could join in school life.

Anyone who has fundraising ideas or who would like to make a donation can call the newsdesk on (01225) 352491 or call into the Wiltshire Times office at 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge.