Mother's thanks after Shrewsbury shop guard aids son

So she was surprised when a kind-hearted security guard came forward and restored her "faith in humanity" after calming her son down.

She now wants to thank him and believes his kindness made all the difference to Sonny who is autistic and suffers from epilepsy.

Seven-year-old Sonny was born severely premature and has various learning disabilities. His mother, Elaine Long-Davies, says family days out are almost "impossible" because of negative reactions to him.

Mrs Long-Davies, of Montford Bridge, who has two other children, said she rushed out the store and did not have chance to thank the good Samaritan after Sonny had a fit in Boots on Meole Brace retail park.

She said: "Sonny was born very premature. He is autistic and he also has epilepsy, behavioural problems and he's asthmatic so it's a catalogue of things.

"What people don't realise is that he is such a character. He has this big personality but as a family we rarely go out together.

"Sonny has 'absences' where he gets very tired and very upset by new sounds and smells. He goes to a childminder one day a week just so we can have some respite.

"But my daughter needed a new swimming costume and I just didn't think."

Sonny experienced an absence fit, where he withdraws completely and becomes "unreachable".

Mrs Long-Davies said: "You can't negotiate with him and you just have to leave him to a certain extent.

"He dropped to the floor and we couldn't get him up, so my two daughters just walked out because they had had enough and they are at that age where they feel embarrassed. Sonny started lashing out at me when this security guard walked over and asked me if I needed any help.

"I said no but then he crouched down and started talking to Sonny. He got his walkie talkie out and Sonny was listening to him. I managed to get him out the store and then realised I hadn't even said thank you."

Mrs Long-Davies believes people have reacted negatively to Sonny in the past, and her family rarely spend time all together because it is so difficult to go out.

She said: "It's really hard, going out isn't something we can do very often and in the past I've felt judged.

"Someone once said that Sonny was distressing their child. That's the sort of attitude I am used to receiving. I just want to say thank you to the security guard, and just make people aware there are some really nice people out there.

"If a few more people were like that and tried to help, and also realised there is a much bigger picture going on. I think Boots should be really proud of their staff, because he was brilliant."