THE family of a six-year-old girl who is unable to stand have launched a fundraising campaign to create a sensory garden.

Alyssa Gomes was diagnosed with epilepsy and severe global development delay when she was just five-days-old.

She experiences regular seizures and is wheelchair bound.

Her parents Lynette Dowden and Nicholas Gomes, of Mapleford Sweep, Vange, believe a specially created garden will improve Alyssa’s day-to-day life and allow them to spend more time together as a family.

Miss Dowden said there were no signs of complications during her pregnancy, but she had to have an emergency caesarean as her baby became distressed.

She said: “We were in and out of hospital a lot around that time.

“She would go through periods of having lots of seizures and then she would calm down and then it would it start again.

“Due to the global development delay she has the mental age and development of a much younger child.

“She is currently in a wheelchair and cannot stand or walk. We had to move house being unsuitable. We had to go to the top of our budget to get a house that met all of Alyssa’s needs.

“We have a very basic garden and want to do a wonderful sensory garden for her.”

Rompa, a company specialising in sensory rooms, is lined up to do the work, which is expected to cost at least £15,000.

Explaining the importance of the garden, Miss Dowden added: “It would give us somewhere to go and spend time as a family, as it would be more suitable for Alyssa’s needs that our current garden.

“We are hoping to have artificial grass laid and a more even flat surface to make the garden more accessible for Alyssa.

“We’ve also been looking at archways with different colours panels so when the sun shines it will shine all different colours.

“We would also like raised flower beds with sensory plants for Alyssa to smell and touch.”

To donate to the campaign, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Lynette-Dowden