Damian Clough looks like any other normal and healthy two-year-old boy.

Like children his own age he is into everything - climbing over bits of furniture and exploring every nook and cranny.

But for parents Julie and David, every movement their son makes has to be watched like a hawk.

Damian was born severely autistic and as such does not speak, does not maintain eye contact and has no understanding of what pain is.

In the past the toddler has burnt his fingers on a red-hot grill - and even though he was screaming in pain he tried to touch it again.

However, it is the youngsters bedroom which is giving the family the most cause for concern. David, 37, says Damian's condition means he is a danger to himself, and the family are now desperate to raise the £2,000 required to put safety padding in his room.

The situation reached a head recently when David discovered Damian hanging from his neck outside his cot.

He explains: "Damian had a special cot in his room which he was constantly climbing and jumping out of. One morning at about 4am I heard an almighty bang and he was hanging from his cot with his neck caught in his pyjamas."

All that remains in bedroom now is a mattress because any other items of furniture would pose a danger.

Julie, 30, says: "His bedroom is just a nightmare. We are desperate for his walls to be padded. He charges around his bedroom and both runs and headbutts into doors and walls.

"We have approached social services and so far we have drawn a blank because they say they can't do anything for at least another six months.

"They are going to fit a special fire guard in the living room but they said we would have to wait for the bedroom, and even then the walls would only be partly covered.

"We need to do something as soon as possible before he seriously hurts himself."

The family have already spent heavily on the living room of their house in Westbank Rise in Braithwaite, putting objects of furniture out of Damian's reach

Damian was diagnosed at 18 months as being severely autistic, although both Julie and David suspected something was wrong before then.

"Problems with Damian started when he was as young as six months and we realised how little eye contact we were getting," says Julie. "At ten months he would do strange things like watching the washing machine go-round all day as well as laughing uncontrollably and then screaming hysterically for no reason."

The youngster currently attends Braithwaite Special School for two-and-a half-hour play sessions.

Even with the support of their parents the couple find it difficult to look after Damian, who needs constant attention.

"One of the worst things is that our five-year-old daughter Kayleigh gets left out because we devote so much time to Damian," says Julie.

David currently works shifts at Keighley's Wask RMF and tries to fit in as much time with his family as possible. Workmates at the company are now busy raising money for the family with a sponsored slim.

Maurice Bassinder - better known to local ballroom and Latin American enthusiasts as MC Maurice - is also looking to hold a fundraising dance.

Anyone who would like to help the Clough family can contact Tony Sunter on 01535 605681.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.