An appeal has been launched to help a Suffolk family coping with a severely autistic child who is unable to sleep through the night.

The Moore family, from Framlingham find night-times an exhausting ordeal due to the complex needs of their four-year son Rhys, who only sleeps for 90 minutes at a time.

His mother and father, Sarah and Kevin, who also have three other children, aged seven, 12, and 15, have been unable to secure funding for a specialist Safespace Hi-Lo bed which would provide a secure tented environment for Rhys to sleep in and allow his family a restful night.

Now a new children’s charity, Over the Rainbow, launched by Bev Lambert, is trying to raise the £6,500 for the bed – and the appeal has already received a £1,000 boost from Lowestoft-based Kingsley Healthcare, where Mrs Lambert works as recruitment manager.

She said it had been hearing Mrs Moore’s heart-rending story that inspired her to launch her charity.

Mrs Lambert, 55, of Alderton, said without the special bed it was unsafe to leave Rhys in bed on his own.

She said: “Rhys’s condition has not been properly diagnosed but he is severely autistic and needs 24/7 care.

“His mother is currently having to sleep downstairs on the sofa next to him.

“We are now hoping that East Anglian Daily Times readers will show their generosity and help us make it a much less stressful new year for the Moore family by reaching the £6,500 target.”

Mrs Moore, of Tudor Close, Framlingham, said: “Rhys only sleeps for 90 minutes and wakes everyone else up.

“He can climb over baby gates and if he was locked in the room he could trash it and injure himself.”

Mrs Moore described the efforts of Mrs Lambert as “amazing”.

“She is an incredible person. If anyone can make it succeed, she will,” she said.

The first major fundraiser for Over the Rainbow Children’s Charity, which aims to help children with serious illnesses, is a ball on February 27 at the Holiday Inn, Ipswich – tickets for the dinner and dance cost £40 per person and people can book at info@overtherainbow-childrenscharity.org.uk

Mrs Lambert is also appealing to businesses and individuals for prizes to raffle and auction to help the Moore family and people are invited to donate via www.overtherainbow-childrenscharity.org.uk