Father launches desperate hunt for little blue cup for his autistic son who won't drink from anything else

A father has said he is "overwhelmed" after his hunt for a little blue cup for his son who has autism was shared widely online.

Marc Carter needs replacement Tommee Tippee cups for son Ben, 14, because he refuses to drink from anything else and his current beaker is disintegrating.

The full-time carer, who also has two other children with special needs, wrote in his appeal: "Ben hasn't drunk at school since the age of five, he doesn't drink outside the house so we can't go anywhere.

"People say he will drink when he's thirsty but two emergency trips to A&E with severe dehydration say otherwise."

Around three years ago Marc managed to replace the beaker - "cup part first, lid a few weeks later" - and Ben, who was suspicious at first, accepted it.

But the cups are not made anymore, and the new versions are different to the specific one he needs.

Since his plea on Monday, Marc says seven replacements are being sent to him from members of the public who were touched by Ben's story.

He added: "I've said I'd pay for the postage but people don't want it.

"Ben might need this cup for the rest of his life so it will be great to have stock. It would be life-changing."

Staff at Tommee Tippee have also responded to the appeal saying they are searching for the beaker too.

Sarah Scott, global head of consumer experience at Tommee Tippee, said: "The cup he previously had was a Tommee Tippee cup that we made for Boots in the late 1990s and our team is currently looking through all our archive product samples to see if we have one that's just right for Ben."