Mum 'amazed' by response to son's birthday request

Four-year-old Ozzy is "obsessed" with trucks, motorbikes and cars

The mother of a "machine-mad" boy whose fifth birthday party plans in September have had to be cancelled because his little sister will be recovering from treatment for a rare blood disorder said she was overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and generosity.

Ozzy Sherratt's mum Lauren posted an appeal on social media for "basically anything fast and loud with wheels" to do a drive-by outside their home in Bury, Greater Manchester.

She said she "couldn't get over" how many offers she had received from people with motorbikes, Mustang cars and 4x4 trucks from as far away as Scotland.

She told BBC Radio Manchester: "The response has been absolutely incredible, we've had hundreds of messages!"

Lauren added: "It's a really difficult time for us as a family... it's just really heart-warming that complete strangers would do this for us.

"I'm just amazed."

She said Ozzy's 16-month-old sister Isla was diagnosed in May with "very severe" aplastic anaemia, a disorder which prevents her bone marrow from producing enough blood cells.

It means the family has spent the last few months going in and out of Manchester Children's Hospital so she can get regular transfusions of blood and platelets.

She will have a bone marrow infusion in August, after which the family will have to spend a period of time isolating from other people while her immunity is compromised.

Ozzy "absolutely adores" his little sister Isla

Lauren said she wanted to make sure Ozzy did not miss out.

"He's been through such a tricky time with his little sister who he loves to the end of the earth," she explained.

She said Ozzy had always been obsessed with machines and vehicles, and used to watch the film Cars every day.

Of her little boy, she said: "He's fast, he's loud, he's himself!

"He's an amazing kid and he really deserve all this."

The family say they have been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers

Lauren said her family had also received offers from local businesses to help make her son's big day an incredibly special one.

"A local baker has said she will make cakes for Ozzy. People have said they'll make t-shirts for him," she said.

"It just shows us there are a lot of kind people in the world, especially in Bury, but also around the country."