A KIND-HEARTED mum who collected enough mobile phones to exchange for an iPad for her autistic son is now helping other children to get one.

Jade O’Donoghue, of Rochford Road, Southend, collected 165 unused phones from friends.

Charity Hearts and Minds supplies children with autism with iPads to help them communicate.

Her son Blake, six, who goes to St Christopher’s School, in Leigh, has been given his iPad, but as she had some mobiles left over, she thought she would help other children.

The idea is children who attend Kingsdown School, in Snakes Lane, Southend, where she feels there are more children who may benefit from them, will be able to get iPads.

She said: “We managed to collect enough mobile phones for my son Blake, who has no way to communicate.

We want to help other children with the same problem to find a way to communicate with their families.

“We had a few left, so we spoke to the school, where my other son Kurt goes, about helping them.”

Margaret Rimmer, Kingsdown School headteacher, said: “The children at the school have many special needs, which have different requirements.

Parents provide a lot of support for the children and I think this is a fantastic idea.”

Old phones can be handed in at the school’s reception.