Joshua Newton is like any other chatty, mischievous three-and-a-half year old - except he will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The youngster, from Lynton Road, Hadleigh, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder which has affected his muscles since he was six months old.

He has never crawled and is prone to infections and breathing difficulties because his chest muscles are affected. Joshua also has problems eating because his muscles are so weak he has trouble swallowing.

At night, his loving parents, Karen and Ian, have to turn him over regularly - up to 15 times on a bad night - because he is unable to do so himself.

Now his family hopes to raise £6,500 for a special bathroom which will give Joshua the independence and dignity he craves. This Is Essex partner The Echo is backing the appeal by setting up a special fund for the youngster.

Karen said: "At the moment, I am hauling him in and out of a normal bath and he is very big for his age and slippery when wet. It is getting quite dangerous. He cannot reach the sink, so we have to place a tub of water down for him to wash his hands.

"Ideally he needs a special shower with a dipped floor, chair and a fitted screen which I can stand behind to keep dry while showering him down. He also needs a raised bath with a hoist to lower him in and lift him out and a height adjustable sink.

"As he gets older he needs some dignity with an electric toilet which can wash and dry him, instead of me helping him. Little boys can get quite proud and don't want their mums doing everything for them."

Both Karen and Ian were unwitting carriers of the gene and only found out after doctors said that there was a one in four chance Joshua would develop SMA - but their latest addition to the family, five-month-old Phoebe, is thankfully free from the disease.

Despite his disability, Joshua tries to be like any other normal child and his parents do everything they can to encourage him.

Karen, 36, said: "He is a very cheerful, loving, happy child. He loves playing football in his wheelchair and paints a lot. He goes to the mainstream Hadleigh nursery where ramps have been put in for him.

"He really is like any other three or four year old. He wants to do everything, especially when he sees the adverts on the television. He knows he cannot get up and walk but he does his best to join in with other children."

The family have built an open plan bungalow so that Joshua can roam around from room to room in his £9,000 wheelchair, built for indoors and outdoors, which was kindly donated by the charity Whizz Kids.

Karen and Ian have also been forced to spend £26,000 on a people carrier car which is big enough to take the weight of Joshua's wheelchair and allow him to drive up to the specially-fitted ramp at the back.

Donations can be made to the Echo Joshua Newton Fund at any branch of Barclays Bank. Quote sort code 20 22 67, account 60 65 22 37.

Appeal for help - Joshua hopes Echo readers can come to his aid

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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