Things appear to be back on track for a family who encountered problems with finding their autistic son a reliable service dog provider.

Kay Lythaby, of Goodrich Close, Watford, was overwhelmed by the response she received at a fancy dress party fundraiser she organised at the weekend which she held to raise money to buy her six-year-old son, Thomas Keene, a service dog.

Ms Lythaby and her family had chosen to use service dog provider Service Dogs Europe to help with Thomas’s anxiety and sleep difficulties.

They have been organising various money raising initiatives throughout the year to raise the £6,000 needed to buy the service dog, but after hearing people’s negative experiences with Service Dogs Europe on a RTE Radio 1 radio show in August, the family began having second thoughts whether to use the company.

At the end of September, the family decided they would acquire their own dog, a Golden Retriever puppy called Buster, and to go ahead with the fancy dress party they had been planning for some time, which took place on Saturday at Woodside Community Centre in Garston.

Ms Lythaby said: "Thomas called out the raffle numbers and everyone had a lovely time.

"We are overwhelmed by the support from everyone and so grateful.

"We will be starting with a trainer very soon to start buster on his obedience training which will take us into his assistance training when he’s about one year old."

The event raised £600 including money raised from The Dome Bar in Watford.