GENEROUS Echo readers have already donated more than £500 to the Bradley Appeal.

Money has been pouring in to help make life easier for five-year-old Bradley Webber and his family. Little Bradley suffers with a form of brain damage called lissencephaly, also known as smooth brain, and was not expected to live past his third birthday.

The rare disorder means the Weymouth youngster cannot hold his head up, walk or talk and his mum Ali says every day of his life is a blessing. We launched the Bradley Appeal last week after the government cut off the five-year-old and his family’s £600-a-month benefits.

But in a shock move, the Department of Work and Pensions said it would reimburse the lost benefits and would increase Bradley’s allowance.

Without them the Chickerell family were set to lose almost £600 a month and their mobility car, which they rely on to get to his hospital appointments in Southampton.

Mum Ali praised the generosity of Echo readers including Peter Pitney, who donated a bag full of money he had collected for his grandchildren.

She told the Echo: “Bradley and the rest of the family thank you all from deepest depths of our hearts. And if Bradley could talk he would say the same thing.

“It’s nice to know we not alone in this world and got the support of the community.”

She added: “It’s nice to see there are still some really kind generous human beings remaining out there.”

Peter said: “I just wanted to help in some way. It’s a real shame for Bradley and his family and I hope that this money will make life easier for them in some way.

The Government department told the Echo last week that it not received renewal forms in time. However, mum Ali said the forms had been completed correctly and handed in several weeks before the deadline.

• How you can help special appeal

CHEQUES and cash donation have been pouring in for the Bradley appeal.

The Dorset Echo launched the Bradley Appeal in a bid to raise funds for the brave five-year-old and his family.

Money donated will go towards urgently needed equipment that the terminally ill youngster needs including a hood and rain cover for his wheelchair, proper flooring for his bedroom and maybe even a well-deserved holiday for his family.

You can donate by:

Cheque: Send a cheque to the Dorset Echo, made payable to the Dorset Echo and posted to Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD;

Cash: Drop cash into the Echo offices in Weymouth or Antelope Walk, Dorchester. Please make sure you include your name and contact number with the donation.