A PENSIONER handed over £300 to help buy a specially adapted car for a terminally ill youngster.

The family of Matthew Downs, from Burley-in-Wharfedale, are now little more than £1,000 short of the £30,000 needed to buy the specially adapted car.

Matthew, who celebrated his seventh birthday on Monday, suffers from muscle wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy, complicated by diabetes, and is not expected to live far beyond his 21st birthday.

Jean Osborne, Matthew's grandmother, from Otley, said: "All I know is that is was from an old age pensioner, that's all it said on the envelope.

"The envelope was soaking wet and the postman actually knocked us up, he said he thought we ought to get it by hand.

"I don't know who it's from, I don't even know whether it was a man or a woman, but I would like to say thank you very much to whoever it was."

The car will mean that Matthew, who goes to Burley Oaks Primary School, will be able to lead as normal a life as possible.

Earlier this month Matthew was given a child of achievement award at a glittering ceremony in London.

And soon he will be off with ten family and relatives for a two week holiday to Disney World in Florida.