A FAMILY'S garden has been given a complete makeover to give a little boy with severe disabilities a special birthday treat.

Teams of volunteers have rallied round to transform a "neglected" and "unsafe" back yard into a colourful, homely haven for Zachariah Followes.

The Followes family moved into an adapted house in Radcliffe in October 2018 after two years of waiting for a suitable property that would accommodate all of Zachariah's needs. However, it soon became apparent that the garden at their new home in Seddon Street was "not fit for purpose."

They therefore reached out to The Frost Foundation, a Radcliffe charity that helps local children who are disadvantaged by illness, circumstance or lack of funding, or are living in crisis.

After a successful appeal on social media, teams of volunteers have been working their magic to transform the garden in two weeks.

Wendy Veevers, fundraising manager and founder of charitable foundation, said: "Well we actually did it! Zachariah's garden is all finished.

"Of course the Great British weather wasn't on our side this week. But with the amazing volunteers who turned up to remove rubbish, erect fencing, paint fences, lay a patio, build walls, build a special swing, lay a flower bed, plant some flowers pots, lay artificial grass and complete a final jet wash, we completed the task we pledged for an amazing little boy."

Zachariah was diagnosed with a change in the Tubb2b gene which left him with uncontrolled epilepsy and severe disabilities.

The Millwood Primary School pupil is also wheelchair bound and severely visually impaired, and requires full-time care from mum Rochelle.

But a little bit of joy has been brought to his life thanks to the teams who renovated the family garden just in time for Zachariah's fifth birthday last Sunday.

The project was overseen by Wendy's son Jack Veevers, who is a builder by trade, and who along with other volunteers worked until 10pm most nights to get the job done.

Mrs Veevers said: "Jack rounded up all his mates who have worked tirelessly on this project, often calling straight from work and staying until 10pm most evenings.

"I can't tell you how amazing they have all been. People have just got stuck in."

The charity, which also paid for the materials and supplies, has installed a plaque on the new garden wall which reads: "Zachariah's Garden, gifted by the Frost Foundation."