A KIDNAPPED hippo has helped raise cash to send a Burnley youngster abroad for pioneering treatment.

Harry the Hippo, the mascot of Briercliffe Beds, was held to ransom in a bid to raise £500 to send youngster Jamie Graham to Hungary.

The five-year-old, of Waddington Avenue, is hoping to go to the Peto Institute in Hungary, a world specialist centre for conductive education for cerebral palsy sufferers.

Mum Anita is trying to raise £15,000 to send Jamie to the centre, which she hopes will help improve his development, but the family are still just short of the total by £200.

Ian Baldwin, of Briercliffe Beds, said they had received a letter from Mrs Graham and were only to keen to help out.

He added: "When we heard about Jamie and how his mum was trying to raise the money to send him abroad we thought holding Harry to ransom would be a fun way to raise some money. We just hope that by doing our bit Jamie will be able to get the treatment he needs."

Anita, 34, said: "Everyone has done really well to raise so much already and it's great that Harry could help out by getting himself kidnapped. We are almost at the total we need now, it is so close.

"It would mean so much if we could raise just that little bit more to make the trip a success. I would be really grateful, and so would Jamie, for any help anyone can give us."

The Hungary trip had been scheduled for the end of March but the family had to postpone it as the youngster has suffered major problems with his pelvis and hips. They now plan to go in February.

Burnley General Hospital also helped to raise cash with various fund-raising events and Jamie's school, Healey Wood Infants, held a Spring disco in March to help the appeal along.