FIVE-year-old Luke Powers - who suffers disabilities after being born premature - is now able to sit back and take it easy on car journeys, thanks to a new £2,242 seat.

And so can his mum Claire, who found she was having to step in to stop him sliding out of his old car seat.

The gadget has been given to the Kingswinford family by the Cannock-based Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, with money donated by The Morgan Foundation.

Luke, who lives with his mother, father Trevor and two-year-old sister Chloe in Highview Drive, was born weighing just 2lb 5oz at 26 weeks and spent five months in hospital, where he needed five operations.

He is partially sighted and has cerebral palsy affecting his legs, lower torso and right arm. The youngster can walk only short, flat distances, going up on his toes and turning one foot in and falling often.

He had outgrown his old car seat and became a danger to himself and other passengers because he could slide out and distract the driver.

Luke's parents turned to the Newlife Foundation after failing to find funding elsewhere for the much-needed equipment. It means he can now travel safely and attend important hospital appointments.

His mum said: "At 18kg he was at the limits of his old five point harness car seat and there were no normal seats with five point harnesses for that weight, especially reclining ones which could have specific chest, shoulder and foot supports.

“The funding from Newlife has enabled us to have a car seat which fully supports Luke and meets his and our needs and lets us travel in relative normality.

“Since we’ve had the specialist car seat we can confidently go on long journeys knowing that Luke is comfortable, supported and safe. He now has a foot rest which gives him additional core stability and support for his heavy boots and frequent plaster casts.

"Previously, he frequently rolled forward alarmingly and I was continually having to turn around in my seat and try and get him to sit upright.

"In his new car seat we no longer have to worry.”

The purchase was funded thanks to a partnership formed between Newlife, the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children, and The Morgan Foundation.

The Morgan Foundation is working with Newlife to ensure more children with disabilities and terminal illness get the right equipment at the right time, including wheelchairs, buggies and walkers for mobility, specialist car seats and beds for safety and a range of other disability equipment.

A Morgan Foundation fundraising golf day and gala dinner in support of Newlife held last year raised £450,000 to provide vital specialist equipment for families like Luke's.

Wolverhampton Wanderers owner Steve Morgan, who is also chairman of The Morgan Foundation, said: “Having a vital aid like this means Luke can be transported in comfort and makes life for the family easier.

“Everyone who took part in our golf day or attended the gala dinner has helped – and will continue to help – make a real difference.”

Newlife chief executive Sheila Brown said: “As local authority budget cuts continue to bite, more and more families are turning to charities like Newlife so their children can get vital equipment for everyday life. Having the support of The Morgan Foundation is an enormous boost for Newlife."

Anyone needing support for disabled children is invited to call the Newlife Nurse Helpline on 0800 902 0095, which is free from UK landlines, or go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk.