A 10-YEAR-OLD boy from Haydon End who broke his arm last year in a cycling accident was overjoyed when he won a free bedroom makeover worth hundreds of pounds.

Callum Reid’s friends and family nominated him for Operation Helping Hand, a DIY SOS-style project where a group of local tradesmen gave up their time to renovate the room of a deserving recipient just before Christmas.

Always Wanted provided the new bed, Lighting Bug provided the light fittings, Lollipop Facilities helped move everything in, and MK Karting gave Callum a free go-karting session to top things off.

James Higgins from J Carpets and tradesman Aelred Smith worked from morning to night for three days to turn the youngster’s room into a stylish sanctuary.

Callum had no idea that he’d been chosen as the winning nominee, so he was amazed when he went upstairs and saw the new carpet, plane-shaped lights, wall-mounted TV, and camouflage-decorated walls in his bedroom.

His mum Jo told the Advertiser: “He wants to be an RAF pilot when he grows up and he loves playing with his army soldier toys so it was a wonderful surprise for him - and just in time for Christmas.

“This is a very busy house and he struggles sometimes but he’s always so good, he deals with it all and just gets on with it.

“He has two brothers who have been diagnosed with ADHD and autism and it can get quite chaotic and stressful, so it’s lovely that he has his own space he can go to for some peace and quiet by himself.

“He’s had a tough year - he broke his arm in the summer by falling off his bike while following one of his brothers around a corner and had to have pins put in for 12 weeks.

“It was quite traumatic for him because he’s developed a fear of medicine and needles from previous medical interventions.”

James from J Carpets said: “Operation Helping hand... has been a massive success, the smile on [Callum]'s face made it all worth it.

"A massive thank-you to all those involved, not only supplying materials but also Aelred for providing long hours with myself all week to get this done on time."

Jo added: “He loves it, he was amazed when he first saw it, he kept saying ‘thank you so much mummy’.

“James and Aelred were there when we revealed the room’s new look, he was very shy and overwhelmed and he thanked them, too, it was a massive team effort.

“He’s so relaxed in there because it’s all clean and new and organised – I just remind him to keep it tidy."