A KIND-hearted community has clubbed together to buy a teenager two new wheels for his wheelchair - to make getting about easier for the youngster.Sixteen-year-old Conor Jones broke four bones in his spine after falling 16ft from a tree and landing on his back.

A KIND-hearted community has clubbed together to buy a teenager two new wheels for his wheelchair - to make getting about easier for the youngster.

Sixteen-year-old Conor Jones broke four bones in his spine after falling 16ft from a tree and landing on his back.

Members of the Cavendish Park Community Association at Felixstowe were so impressed by the way Conor was determined to fight back from his horrific injuries they wanted to help in any way they could.

They decided to buy him two sporting wheels for his wheelchair - strong lightweight ones to replace his current heavier wheels.

Association chairman Barry Farr said members had raised �809 for the wheels after an appeal went out, including �63 raised by parents, staff and children at a cake stall at Grange Primary School and a �100 donation from county council children's services.

The association doesn't usually help individuals but made Conor a one-off because of his situation.

“It was a tremendous response and shows how much as a community we wanted to help,” said Mr Farr.

“We wanted to try to encourage this young man because there is still a future for him and there are plenty of things he will be able to do and enjoy in his life.”

Conor's father Sean Jones, of Thurston Court, Felixstowe, said: “Conor is thrilled with the new wheels - it shows real community spirit and we want to thank everyone who donated.

“It will certainly make getting about easier because the wheels are much lighter. Its like putting alloy wheels on your car - they look better, are strong and perform much better.”

Conor, a student at Deben High School and who is planning to do a BTEC in business at college, has also been playing some wheelchair basketball - it had been one of his favourite sports before the accident - and uses a specialist wheelchair for matches.

Mr Jones said his son could walk with crutches but only short distances because of the pressure this put on his feet.

Send your message of support to Conor - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

CONOR'S life was turned upside down last summer when he fell 16ft from a tree and landed on a tree stump breaking his back.

He was unconscious for about ten minutes and when he woke he t like he was paralysed from the armpits down and was coughing up blood.

He was with three friends who rolled him on to his side to clear his airways, and phoned for help.

He was airlifted after the accident on June 24 to Ipswich Hospital where orthopaedic spinal surgeon Dr David Sharp repositioned Conor's spine and pinned it back in place with 39 staples.

He was then moved to Stoke Mandeville Hospital's Spinal Injuries Centre in Aylesbury.

While he can walk short distances, he cannot move his feet and has lost feeling in his hips and legs are numb.

He was told he would have a 70 per cent chance of walking again and has had to return to Stoke Mandeville for regular check-ups and physiotherapy.