THE parents of a disabled baby girl have been “blown away” by the generosity of Gazette readers and the community after they helped smash a fundraising target for vital equipment by more than £5,000.

The Gazette teamed up with the Harvey family and The Tavern, in Holland-on-Sea, to raise £2,000 for specialist equipment for little Iyla Rose.

A fundraising weekend at the pub, donations to the Gazette and a campaign page set up by dad, Matt Harvey, have now raised a whopping £7,641 to pay for the early Christmas present.

Iyla Rose was diagnosed with Wolf Hirschhorn syndrome when she was born in October last year and spent the first five months of her life in hospital.

The genetic disorder affects many parts of the body, causing abnormalities and delayed growth.

The cash will now be used to buy a new specialist pram with a side basket to carry Iyla Rose’s feeding pump and other vital kit, as well as sensory equipment.

Mum Chloe, of Fairfield Road, Clacton, said: “We have been blown away by how generous people have been and by how many people have got involved.

“We can’t say thank you enough to everyone.

“This will do so much to help improve Iyla’s life.

“We didn’t expect anywhere near this sort of money to be raised.

“As she gets older, she will need more things. We don’t expect her to be able towalk, so money can go towards a specialist wheelchair.”