FOR five years Jamie Jenkins' anxious parents feared they would never hear him speak.

But that fear turned to joy when Jamie finally broke his silence with an unusual first proper word - purple.

The fact he was talking at all was all down to specialist treatment, funded by the generous people of Swindon.

Mum Emma said the moment her son spoke to her for the very first time, three weeks ago, was "fantastic".

"I'm over the moon," she said.

"I give so much to Jamie and I try so hard all the time.

"Just to get something back was quite special."

Five-year-old Jamie, of Eldene, goes to Brimble Hill Special School, in Tadpole Lane, Redhouse.

He was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and severe learning difficulties aged two and a half.

Though it is early days this is the first time Jamie has recognised, pointed at something and named it.

"He's tried saying Spongebob before, but nothing clear," said Emma.

"He's been trying for a long time and making lots of sounds, but he's properly said a word now.

"We're just trying to help Jamie in whatever way possible because him being able to communicate is the most important thing."

His parents were determined to raise the money to send him to the National Light and Sound Therapy Centre in London.

There, Jamie underwent two weeks of half-hour light and sound therapy sessions twice a day.

Halfway through the therapy came the breakthrough Emma and Dave had been hoping for.

"Every day I was saying to Jamie look it's blue today or look it's purple," said Emma.

"We were walking along the road and he said his first word - he pointed at a door and said purple.

"I was really shocked and I kind of froze.

"I just wanted to scream and shout and tell everyone - it was so emotional, I didn't know whether to cry or laugh."

But this treatment was only possible thanks to £3,500 raised with the help of family, friends and the public at a charity race night at the White Hart in Oxford Road, Stratton.

That event was organised by landlord and landlady Tina and Derek Rowlands and their daughter Kelly.

"All my family and friends got together and it was an amazing night," said Emma.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone for their support because I couldn't have done any of it without them."

The sound therapy involved Jamie listening to music through headphones while the light therapy exposed Jamie to different colours each day from a light box.

Further to that a week ago Jamie managed his second word when he called Emma mumma'.

Now Emma says Jamie cannot stop saying purple' and mumma'.

"He does say purple a lot - it's definitely his favourite word," added Emma.

Experts recommend the sound and light therapy treatment every year so Emma is definitely taking Jamie back next year.