BRAVE KYLE TRULY DESERVES A MAGICAL TIME AT TOWERS

IF ANYONE deserves an extra-special Christmas this year it’s Kyle Rhodes. The six-year-old saw his younger brother Corey die after the car they were passengers in was involved in a horrific collision with a van at Draycott-in-themoors, near Uttoxeter.

His mother Rebecca Smith, who was driving the car, died the next day.

Now Kyle and his grandparents Pat and Jeff Rhodes, with whom he now lives in Cheadle, have been revealed as the winners of our Santa Sleepover competition, which will see them enjoy a whole host of festive treats at Alton Towers this weekend.

At a casual glance Kyle, who used to live in Fenton, looks no different to any happy-golucky youngster.

You would be hard-pressed to guess what he has been through from that wonderful shot on our front page of Kyle with his arms around his grandparents.

But the story that Pat and Jeff have shared in today’s newspaper will leave no one in any doubt about the ordeal, both physical and otherwise, that this brave little boy has endured.

It certainly touched Margaret Chandler, who nominated Kyle for the prize.

‘ After everything he’s been through I see that little lad go into school every morning with a big smile

’ on his face

And her words capture just why he deserves this special weekend: “After everything he has been through I see that little lad go into school every morning with a big smile on his face.

“I just thought a little bit of magic will help make things easier for him and give him something to look forward to.” And let us just say, amen to that.