A LITTLE boy who has battled against the odds for most of his short life has inspired a new charity supporting disabled children in one of the region's most isolated valleys.

Two weeks after he was born, Jake Howes, three, of Frosterley, was already defying doctors by surviving an encephalaptic virus which left him with seemingly insurmountable problems.

Suffering from cerebral palsy and scoliosis and registered blind, Jake is unable to hold himself upright or control his arms and legs.

Yet the happy tot has become the youngest pupil at Murphy Crescent Special School, in Bishop Auckland, which he attends part time, and has shown such determination and courage that he has been given a nursery place there in September.

The school has given his parents Helen Blackburn and Alistair Howes a book recording his many achievements and they have a great belief that their son will go on confounding medical opinion.

They launched the charity Independence 4 DisAbility to raise awareness of children like Jake and to raise money for all disabled children in Weardale.

Eventually they hope to be able to set up a respite centre for families like themselves who need a huge amount of support.

Tragically for them, about the same time that Jake was born their older son James, now six, was diagnosed with a form of autism, which means he too will need a place at a special school.

Conservationist Dr David Bellamy is one of a host of people already getting behind the charity, which has events planned through the summer.

Mr Howes said: "We don't know what the outcome will be for Jake. We have never accepted anything they have told us, even from the start when they prepared us for him to die.

"All I know is that you have to get your act together, do your crying and sort it out. I believe in my son. He is a fighter and he deserves the best."

Frosterley Brownies are arranging a charity fashion show, the charity's chairman Dave Ayre and Jim French are donating a third of the proceeds of their annual UCATT bike ride and a sponsored wheelchair push is planned through Weardale on July 4.

At the first the money raised by the charity will be spent on outings and equipment.

Anyone wanting to help should contact Helen Blackburn, the secretary, on (01388) 526862.