A DISABLED West Kirby schoolboy is now able to make trips most people take for granted thanks to a Wirral Globe campaign.

Miro Griffiths, 12, needed more than £8,000 for his father to buy a specially converted van which could carry him and his wheelchair in the back.

In May the Globe launched a campaign to help raise the cash for the van and now, thanks to kind-hearted Globe readers, the fund has hit its target.

Miro has suffered from a muscle-wasting disease since he was two and developed a curvature of the spine. He had to undergo surgery to correct the curvature, which involved taking discs out of his back and inserting metal rods.

The surgery meant that Miro could no longer fit into a normal car and needed a specially converted van.

Miro's dad David Griffiths told Globe: "Now we've got the van it has made a really dramatic impact. We now have the transport that we have not had since April.

"Other than the occasional trip to Birkenhead on the train, Miro has not really been out since then. It was so restrictive.

"Now we have been able to take him to a drive-through restaurant, the cinema and even on a family trip to Wales . . . just doing things other people take for granted."

Mr Griffiths said that the response to the Globe campaign had been "heart-warming".

He added: "It leaves you with a lump in your throat when someone knocks on your door with a cheque.

"There has been a fantastic response and we couldn't have made it without the help of the Wirral Globe and its readers. It has been really tremendous."

The last £1,000 cheque of the £8,700 will be presented by Merseyside Police this week.

Mr Griffiths expressed his thanks to everyone who helped, from the hundreds of anonymous donors and Wirral coastal walkers to organisations like the staff and Miro's school friends at Woodchurch, the police, Wirral Rotary Club, Beatties, Wirral Methodist Housing Association, Widnes Car Centre and Cheshire Cats.