YOUNGSTERS at a Bradford special school are set to benefit from donations in memory of a retired toffee boiler.

Lewis Spinks, who died aged 82, had 11 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren but had an extra-special relationship with one of his grandsons in particular who attends Chellow Heights Special School in Heaton.

Dylan Isherwood, ten, of Queensbury, regularly visited his 'old' grandad, who lived Goodwin House, Queensbury, to keep him up to date with what was happening at school.

Dylan, who has been a pupil at Chellow Heights for five years, has global development delay, dyspraxia and a severe speech delay.

The pair were good friends, said Dylan's grandma Susan Beever who said her dad looked forward to seeing Dylan and hearing his news.

"Dad was always praising him for how he was progressing and would buy raffle tickets or give anything he had to help raise funds at the school.

"He knew how much Dylan loves it there. They do marvels with those children and they're all happy. It's a wonderful place.

Donations collected at Mr Spinks' funeral at Scholemoor Cemetery in Bradford will go towards the school's Chellow Hearts appeal.

"Dad loved all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who called him old granddad and would ask about them everyday but Dylan and him were good pals. Dylan's taken home the hippo he had on his bed to look after for him," said Mrs Beever.

Mr Spinks had come from Barnsley with his family to live in Queensbury and lived in Hillcrest Road for more than 40 years before moving last September into sheltered accommodation at Goodwin House.

He was diagnosed with cancer of the throat and lungs only three weeks before he died at Bradford Royal Infirmary last month.

He had met his wife Margaret while working in the mills and had then gone on to be a toffee boiler at the former Mackintosh's confectionary factory in Halifax until he retired.

The couple had six children.

Chellow Hearts trustee Vicki Street said: "It's so kind of the family to think of us at this sad time. We really appreciate it. Donations are always needed."

The school's charity provides equipment, resources and support for pupils and families including running holiday clubs and activities, buying new bikes and crating more fun in outdoor play areas.

To make a donation go to virginmoneygiving.com/chellowhearts