A FIVE-YEAR-OLD music lover has racked up more than 10,000 web hits with a heartwarming video of his Christmas singalong, which raises awareness of the autism spectrum disorder.

Stephen Evans, 39, and his wife Bettina were thrilled when their son Jesse, who has autism and typically struggles in crowds, took centre stage among a brass band as they belted out Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer at Middlebrook shopping mall in Horwich on December 3.

The band leader even gave Jesse some festive jingle bells which he played excitedly throughout the rendition of the Christmas classic, unaware an audience was gathering.

Mr Evans, who is from Millom, said: "We thought the video would help to raise awareness of autism.

"In the video, he's not aware people are around him, but he hears the music and it just connects.
"He's got a few words that he says but he doesn't really communicate - he sings all the time and he loves songs because he doesn't have to think about it so he will just sing away."

According to Mr Evans, the St James' Catholic Primary School pupil had only just started learning Christmas songs at his new school and believes his son, who frequently works with Walney autism practitioner Jemma Swales, instantly recognised the song.

"The band have asked if he will play in their Christmas show," Mr Evans added.

"On the day he was asking to go to Starbucks - there's a service station we go to which has a Starbucks and he always asks to go.

"He loves the motorway as it's very sensory for him, so we go to the toy shop in Bolton together.

"He just heard music and stopped. He's usually got quite a short attention span but we didn't expect for one minute he would do it."

The Millom family have praised the support available across their community with particular reference to the group, Autism around the Combe, which they say has been a very useful tool for them.