A pigeon racing fundraiser has drummed up thousands of pounds to give a single mum from Feltham hope to hear her son talk again.

Vince Sheedy, 52, from Isleworth , was touched by mum Rochelle Vick's heartwarming appeal to help fund a speaking aid so seven-year-old autistic Ashton Vick-Sylvan could communicate with his family for the first time in more than four years.

A regular fundraiser, Mr Sheedy turned to online pigeon racing auction site Pigeon Chat, owned by Janette Talyor in Manchester, where he appealed for donations towards Ashton's cause and managed to raise £3,200.

A total of £2,160 was donated to the Ashton GoFundMe page adding to the £640 already raised boosting the total to £2,800, enough to buy the device needed for him, and the remaining £1,040 was donated to the Lindon Bennett School in Hanworth which Ashton attends.

Ashton with his mum Rochelle Vick

Mr Sheedy said: "I raised the remainder of the money for Ashton and had some money left over which will go to the school he attends.

"Lindon Bennett is close to my heart as for many years my niece had Downs Syndrome and died when she was 26 and spent many years at the school.

"I have grandchildren myself who don't have difficulties and when it's children concerned I like to help as much as I can.

"I have always raised money for local charities and local people through racing pigeons for years."

Read More: Autistic boy to receive speaking aid thanks to kindness of strangers.

In the past Mr Sheedy has raised money for Shooting Star and around £7k for Charlotte Robinson of Chiswick who had meningitis and had her leg amputated.

An extremely thankful Ms Vick said: "We are so very grateful for the massive amount of funds Mr Sheedy has raised for our Ashton.

"I understand he is donating the remainder of the funds to Ashton's school which is such an amazing thing to do, as there are lots of children there with all different types of disabilities who will benefit from the money."

Unfortunately, during a trial with the original device (cost £2,800) Ashton became extremely upset and anxious.

However in the New Year he will trial another device called the Logan Protalker, a similar Picture Exchange Communication System, which costs around £1,800.

Ms Vick said if Ashton takes to the Logan device the remainder of the money Vince raised will go towards sensory equipment which will aid his autism.