A DENBIGHSHIRE man has marked his 30th birthday by giving back to an NHS service which helped him as a young child.

Tom Mellor, from Denbigh, asked friends and family members for donations to local good causes in lieu of gifts.

His kind-hearted gesture raised over £810, which will be split between the Denbigh based Denbighshire Children’s Centre and Capel y Waen near Trefnant, whose volunteers provide a befriending service to people in the local area.

The Denbighshire Children’s Centre’s Early Years Service, which was previously based in Rhuddlan, provides services for children with a range of needs and abilities.

Tom says he was inspired to give something back to the centre following the support he and his family received when he was a young child.

"The Children’s Centre provided my family and I with a good foundation to access a wide range of support.

"I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome later on in my childhood, but this hasn’t got in the way of me leading an independent life. I attended mainstream education and I’ve gone on to travel the world and hold down jobs.

“Initially I’d set a target of raising £200, so I was thrilled that thanks to the generosity of friends and family the final total was over £800. I hope the funds raised will help make a difference for local people in the Denbigh area.”

Tom recently presented a cheque to representatives of Capel y Waen and the Denbighshire Children’s Centre, where he was reunited with Anne King, a Community Sister with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who had supported him and his family more than 27 years ago.

Anne said: “It is lovely to meet up with Tom and to see him doing so well all these years after he was first in contact with the Children’s Centre. We are very grateful and touched that he has decided to mark such a special birthday by raising money for our service.”