Ref. 71679-07THE parents of Aidan Evans feel shattered from constantly watching their four-year-old who has attention deficit disorder.

They say Swindon Council's social services department has given them virtually no support in coping with their son's condition just 12 hours in total.

Aidan was diagnosed with ADD when he was 18 months old. He also suffers from epileptic fits and may have Asperger's Syndrome.

His mum Gail, 37, of Windmill Piece, Chiseldon, said: "We feel angry and pretty let down. We've been asking for social services to help us for over a year. We have only just managed to get a key worker.

"We know of other families who have children with ADD living in other areas and they receive a great deal more support."

The council said it does not want to comment on individual cases due to confidentiality.

But Gail and husband Conrad, 35, who works at Motorola, came forward after reading about the Evening Advertiser's campaign to get help for Gavin Osbourn, 24, who has Downs Syndrome. His family have been trying to get him proper day care for nearly five years.

The Evans family are frustrated they cannot devote more time to their other children Rhoswyn, 14, Keira, nine, Lucy, seven and 12-month-old Seren.

They received four hours of respite care every fortnight, which had been arranged by social services.

But that help stopped last week just six weeks after it started because Aidan's childminder felt she couldn't cope with him.

Gail said: "We are trapped in the house. We can't go out as a family even though it is the summer holidays. It's not fair on the other children. They need space away from him.

"Aidan has no sense of danger. He would run into traffic or try to jump out of the window if we were in a car. He can't be left alone. He just snaps suddenly. One minute he could be hugging you and the next he'll be kicking.

"There is a lot of pressure on us. We have to watch him constantly during the day and at night because Aidan doesn't sleep very well."

Lead member for social services Coun Ian Dobie (Con, Haydon Wick) said: "In the interests of maintaining confidentiality codes we are bound by we will continue discussions directly with the people involved.

"These newspaper reports highlight the very individual needs of each and every case that is presented to us and illustrate just what a challenge the Social Services department has. We will continue to try to find the best solution for all individuals ."

What is ADD and Aspergers

ATTENTION deficit disorder (ADD) is a neurological condition whose sufferers have difficulty concentrating and are easily distracted.

This can have a negative effect when the sufferer is attempting to complete even the most simple tasks.

Aspergers Syndrome is thought to be on the same spectrum of conditions as autism, although it is very different from the latter.

People with Asperger Syndrome are often highly intelligent but suffer great emotional distress if their craving for constant order and routine is challenged.

A symptom of the condition is the amassing of every scrap of knowledge about a subject seemingly chosen at random.

Bhavani Vadde