A seven-year-old boy who suffers from a rare skin disease that stops him from going out in the sun, is appealing for help to find a cure.

Lewis Eyers from Bradford on Avon, has Epidermolysis Bullosa a genetic skin disorder more commonly known as EB.

If his skin gets hot in the sun, or near radiators, he develops painful blisters that spread until they are pierced.

His mother Jennie, who also suffers from EB but not as badly, said: "He mostly gets them on his feet, and the blisters spread through his toes. But he is very brave about it.

"He walks to school, and tries to play all of the games the other children do, but sometimes the pain is too much for him and he can't walk you don't realise how much pain children can hide behind a smile."

Lewis's blisters need constant attention and dressing with special gauze.

He said he wishes he could spend more time outside with his friends. "I sometimes just get too tired and it's too painful, but I can have a rest when I get in from school which helps."

Mrs Eyers now faces an agonising wait to find out if her youngest child, Chloe, will develop EB too. She said: "If they are going to get it, it is when they are about two, and Chloe is 13 months and I'm just praying that she doesn't get it."

There is a charity dedicated to helping EB sufferers called DEBRA which has developed specialist treatment centres.

Mrs Eyers and her friends are organising a fundraising event in June to help raise money to find a cure.

They have organised a balloon release on June 23 at Christ Church School and have already been given several prizes for a raffle.

Mrs Eyers said: "DEBRA is not government funded, and they do so much for people, that we have to raise as much as possible to support them."