Dozens of volunteers turn out to help adapt Telford schoolboy Matthew's home

Dozens of craftsmen attended a meeting at Wrockwardine Wood Junior School in Telford last night to help make over Matthew Cooper's home in Trench.

The 11-year-old was diagnosed with brain and spine cancer in August and has been at Birmingham Children's Hospital ever since.

He is partially paralysed and in a wheelchair, and is not expected to leave hospital until November.

Earlier this month the school, where Matthew is a pupil, set up the Bring Matt home fund and has raised £20,000. The fund was set up after staff and pupils were turned down by TV programme DIY SOS.

They launched WWJS SOS and have been inundated with offers of help. Landscape gardeners, structural engineers, architects, builders, plasterers, electricians and tradesmen offered their time and expertise to Team Matthew.

Several have offered to carry out some of the work for free, while other people have offered their time to paint and decorate or make tea and clear up. Wyevale Garden Centre has said it will donate plants once the garden is reconfigured to be wheelchair-friendly.

Julie Henry, headteacher at the school, said: "I am stunned and astounded by the level of support we have received. We have had offers from all sorts of tradespeople and it has been an amazing response."

Philip Howarth, a 62-year-old carpenter from Shawbirch, went to offer his help after reading about Matthew in the Shropshire Star.

"I am semi-retired so I would love to help out," he said. "I am also running a marathon in Edinburgh and all the money I raise will go towards this project."

Sharon Colliss, 43, from Wrockwardine Wood, visits Matthew each week. She said: "My daughter Emily is Matthew's best friend and we have to do something to ensure he comes home. I will just be a general helper for the builders."

• To donate to the fund visit www.gofundme.com/8s276ynw or contact the school on (01952) 387880.