A WIRRAL schoolboy with cerebral palsy is to finally get a voice after an appeal helped raise thousands of pounds for specialist equipment.

Daniel Jones, aged five, from Prenton, has Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, which means he has no functional use of his limbs and is unable to talk.

He has to rely on facial expressions and eye pointing to make his needs known – but the specialist communication package could transform his life.

The only way he can speak is by using an Eye-gaze communication system.

It costs £4,160 and his family turned to children's disability charity Newlife Foundation for help.

The charity, in turn, launched an appeal for the public to help raise the cash.

Megan Gamble, 19, a student at Liverpool’s Hope University, responded to their campaign by organising a night of fire-eating, stiltwalking, singing and dancing at Modo nightclub in Concert Square, Liverpool and raised an amazing £1,940.

Liverpool Lions Club contributed a further £300, Wirral communications company Integrated Digital Services donated £500, with additional support from individual donors. Newlife has funded the balance of more than £1,300.

Daniel has trialled the Eye-gaze communication system through his school Elleray Park in Wallasey.

His mum Sharon said: "He has had an opportunity to trial the equipment and his teachers were amazed at how quickly he was able to understand and use it.

"Daniel has recently been assessed by an educational child psychologist who has said this communication package could potentially bring his development on so much.

"Daniel is a bright little boy but he is trapped in his body and he can’t make his thoughts known to us. He understands everything we say to him, but sadly he can’t reply.

"The Eyegaze will give him a voice and greatly increase his opportunities through his education.

"The availability of different software packages means it will grow with him, enabling him to learn and develop in a way which isn’t currently possible.”

She added: "I just want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed so generously towards Daniel’s appeal, including our family and friends.

"We can’t wait to see for ourselves the difference that this piece of specialist equipment could potentially make to Daniel’s future.

"It will hopefully open up a door which is currently closed to him, and over the coming years we hope to see him gain full control over the use of the equipment and supporting software, and hopefully he will finally be able to express himself fully."