JONATHAN Jones' sunny, chatty disposition belies the fact he has cerebral palsy - a tribute to those who have treated him, says mum Jayne.

She is urging the Capital Investment Board to invest in Jonathan's future and that of thousands of other youngsters across south Gwent, by approving the £5.8m required for the centre.

"It is an investment in future generations, a chance to improve very disjointed services," she said.

Seven-year-old Jonathan was diagnosed when two-and-a-half years old and has received physio- occupatiuonal and speech and language therapy to enable him to walk, express himself and improve his motor skills.

"He struggled with his speech and got very frustrated, and he couldn't walk on his own," said Mrs Jones of her son, who attends Clytha primary school and has received much of his therapy at Eveswell clinic.

"The dedication and skill of the specialists there is tremendous, but the clinic is old and jaded and the parking situation is horrendous.

"It can be stressful and emotionally draining to go to a clinic anyway, because it highlights a child's problems.

"But if you have a child with mobility issues and have to park half a mile away, and get them up or down a steep hill like that at Eveswell, it makes things much harder.

"We've been there three times in one week on occasion, for different things, and we've had to go other clinics too.

"The centre will transform the experience for so many people, not least the children. Services are too disjointed at the moment.

"To have a new building specifically built with these children's needs in mind, to cater for the children rather than having to have existing buildings adapted for them, would be fabulous."