A SCHOOLBOY with a rare hereditary condition has been given his freedom back after fellow pupils raised more than £650 to pay for a new mobility scooter for him.

Sam Angus, of Barnard Castle, was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) as a baby.

It means the 13-year-old suffers from weakness and stiffness in his leg muscles making it difficult to walk.

And as symptoms usually get worse over time, Sam can't walk unaided and must use aids such as a wheelchair and walker.

He was previously given a power chair by the Teesdale Disability Forum but the youngster needed a mobility scooter for outside use.

After hearing of his plight, fellow pupils at Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, decided to throw a Christmas-themed coffee morning in a bid to raise the funds for the new chair.

Year 12 pupil, Jay Dean, who led the group, said: “We had a coffee morning and seeing all the money raised we thought we could do something for a cause close to us.

The 16-year-old added: “We auctioned a kindle and got local businesses involved as well – it was a fun think for everyone to do.”

The pupils raised £663 from the event which was topped up to the £895 needed by Chris Read and his charity A Smile for a Child, which helps disabled children get into sport.

And Sam gave the new chair a big thumbs up on Tuesday (March 14) when he showed off the new chair to the group for the first time at the school.

Sam’s father, Paul Angus, said the new chair had changed his son’s life as his condition meant he found it hard to go out and play with other children but is now whizzing about like Lewis Hamilton.

“The brain sends signals to his legs and it gets a bit jumbled – he cannot walk unaided,” he said. “The new chair can be taken to bits so it’s ideal when you’re out and about.

“It’s just freedom for him and will help him make friends and see the world really.

“I think it’s fantastic and it’s nice to see kids do this.”

Mr Read, who has raised more than £1million for disabled children across the country, also praised the students for their efforts.

“Young people often get a bad press and I think it’s excellent what they have done,” he said.

Mr Angus, who is also father to ten-year-old Charlie, added: “I cannot thank them enough, it’s a very kind gesture.”