Five Lions Clubs have funded an assistance dog to aid a young autistic boy.

The Beccles, Bungay Area, Halesworth, Lowestoft and Southwold Lions Clubs, which together form Zone 4C of District 105CE, agreed to support a family requiring an Autism Assistance Dog for their son Elliot.

Elliot is six, nonverbal and requires round-the-clock care.

The clubs provided a £4,000 cheque to acquire and train a specialised dog to meet Elliot's specific needs.

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Elliot's mother, Hannah Day, expressed immense gratitude to the clubs.

 She said: “I cannot thank the Lion Clubs of Zone 4C enough for this kind donation as it will help Elliot enormously."

She described Elliot as a boy who loves being outdoors, often found on his swing, and how an assistance dog will be invaluable.

She said: “We do not know what the future holds for Elliot. "It’s a very scary unknown.

"However by having an assistance dog we hope that this will a big help to not only the family, it will be an immense help for Elliot too."

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She explained the dog will be trained to enable freedom, assist with therapy, and keep the family safe among other tasks.

A spokesman for the Zone 4C Clubs said: “Once we heard about Miss Day and Elliot’s situation all the Clubs unanimously agreed to help in any way they could.

"We are also keen to see how things progress and look forward to seeing both Elliot and his Autistic Assistance Dog form that close connection that will really help him going forward.

"This is why, I’m sure, we all joined the Lions to see the smiles on those happy faces of people we can and have been able to help where possible.”