A teenager received hundreds of cards from the people of Bolton to celebrate his landmark 18th birthday.

Rhys Williams, who has won the hearts of local people as he battles a crippling skin condition, has been celebrating his birthday with a huge bingo party on the weekend after he turned 18 on September 22.

The teenager also received 100s of birthday cards to his home after a plea by his mum, Tanya Moores for people to celebrate. her son's birthday

As part of the celebrations, Rhys spent a morning with Bolton FM as well as a gliding lesson.

Tanya said: “Rhys loved being on Bolton FM.

“He was in charge of all the buttons and absolutely loved it. It was amazing they wanted him to do it, and he enjoyed it.

“Rhys sits and reads the cards he has been getting with a smile on his face.”

The Bolton News: Rhys Williams

And Rhys was most happy about receiving a birthday card from his former primary school teaching assistant.

Mum Tanya said: “She still remembers on every birthday and Rhys just loves all his cards because it shows him people are thinking about him.

“Rhys loves the idea of bingo so this was the first time he could go and play it properly, so we went with family and friends, and he had a good time.”

Tanya revealed that it meant a lot for Rhys to be appreciated as he was not able to have a normal life like other teenagers.

She said: “His life revolves around getting up, having his meds, going to college, coming home and having more meds.

“He should be going out but he cannot do that, so having the birthday cards to come home to was something nice and different.

“He was coming back from college asking how many cards he has received that day.

“It just shows him that he is not just somebody with a skin condition but makes him feel that people are seeing him for him, as Rhys and not a poorly person.”