Boy's appeal for festive gifts for ambulance staff

A young boy is seeking festive hamper gifts, so he can brighten up the lives of ambulance workers this Christmas.

Finley-Jay, age nine, from Shrewsbury is asking for items like shortbread, hot chocolate and mince pies, which he will then take to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

He has been making the trips for a number of years and his mother, Laura, said: "He sees them smile and he just loves it." In the last year his kindness has seen him nominated for two awards and she said the recognition has "made a big difference to him".

She said it had become a tradition and last year her son was "bombarded with donations," but the offers of support had been slower this year.

"I understand that its the time of year and money's tight," she said, but she hoped more people would contribute via his Facebook page - "Finley-Jay's Ambulance Bags Journey".

Finley-Jay was highly commended at the BBC Shropshire Make a Difference awards in September

Finley-Jay, who has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD, has become a well-known face with West Midlands Ambulance Service staff.

His mother said it was rewarding to give them a lift, "especially if they've been to a tough call".

"I love it because I think its ever so good what he does," she said.

It is Finley-Jay's ambition to join the ambulance service one day and she said while he did not win the Mayor's Award in May or the BBC Make a Difference award in September, being highly commended had been a big boost for him.

She said "his face lit up" at the recognition.