AN APPEAL is being made for old mobile phones to help a child with learning difficulties.

Toni Harwood’s son Ethan is autistic and often struggles with concentration in school, which affects both him and those in his class.

She has now taken up a challenge set by a charity to collect as many mobile phones as possible. Once she has collected at least 165 handsets she can exchange them with the charity for an Ipad.

Ethan,eight, a pupil at St Michael’s Primary School, can then use this to help him through lessons.

“The Ipad would make such a difference, not only to Ethan but also to his classmates,” said Toni, 38, of Aldbourne.

“Ethan has problems focusing in class and there are some days when he gets almost nothing done.

“This has a detrimental effect on the rest of the class who also get distracted.

“The Ipad would have special apps that help him to learn. If Ethan thinks it’s a game just for him he’ll be focused on it and be able to learn.”

The challenge to collect the phones is being run by the charity Hearts And Minds, which aims to improve the lives of children with autism.

Toni has some of the phones needed but is asking if anyone can help her reach the target.

“The support of everyone has been fantastic so far. I’ve been amazed by the response,” she said.

“Ethan’s school have been very helpful and put an appeal for phones in their newsletter. We also know people from across the county who are also collecting them for us.”

Toni is running the appeal alongside friend David Anderson, of Westbury, whose five-year-old son Ashton also has autism.

“We’ve decided to work together to raise at least 165 each,” she said.

“He has managed to get friends from all over the world to help.”

If anyone has phones to donate take them to Fonefix in Gorsehill. It does not matter whether the phone works or not but it must be less than 10 years old and have a battery, although a charger is not needed.