A mother who took to Facebook to ask strangers to send her ‘lonely’ son birthday wishes has said she has been left overwhelmed – after he received hundreds of cards from around the globe.

Molly-Mole Povey, from Newton Abbot, Devon, wrote the post on the social media site, which went viral, explaining how Roman, 11, was a ‘lovely, adorable boy with difficulties’.

The 42-year-old revealed how Roman used to cry himself to sleep at night because he has no friends and has only ever received just one party invitation from the kids at school.

Molly Mole (right) took to Facebook to ask strangers to send her son Roman (left) cards for his 11th birthday

Molly and Roman were left overwhelmed – after he received hundreds of cards from around the globe

Molly says the difficulties stem from his shyness and problems with his speech.

But the appeal was so successful that Roman has now received more than 200 cards - from Dubai, Denmark, Austria, Egypt, New Zealand, Finland, Germany and Norway.

He even received parcels from NASA and 20th Century Fox.

Molly, a teacher, decided to put out the appeal after Roman faced another friendless birthday party.

She said: 'In seven years he has only had one party invite. I completely understand that it costs a lot of money to host parties, so kids only want their best friends there.

‘In the past I have even offered to pay but that didn't work. He would come home crying from school every day, it really upsets him that he doesn't have any friends.’

Molly describes Roman, 11, as a ‘lovely, adorable boy with difficulties’

Mollie's Facebook post in full - asking for people to wish her son a happy birthday

Molly asked strangers for their help after her son revealed he had no friends at school but the mother was overwhelmed when she then received over 400 cards from around the world

Molly decided to take matters into her own hands, and put out a post on Facebook.

The post reads: 'Roman doesn't have any friends and often cries himself to sleep because of this. In seven years he has had only had one party invite.

‘Sometimes he sits crying asking if he will get a call to invite him to a classmate's party, and we have to explain that he won't.

‘I have even rung friends up and asked if I can pay the party fee to take Roman along and keep an eye on him - but no, this has not worked either.

‘I cannot express how heart-breaking these past few years have been seeing my beautiful boy so upset, so often.

‘He has struggled to make friends because of he has difficulty communicating.

‘When the kids come over to talk to him he can't keep up with them, which makes him feel bad.

Molly said: ‘The compassion shown has been truly inspiring.‘I was hoping a couple of school people might give him a card, but it went viral with people offering to send him cards from all over the world,'

Molly says that Roman often cries himself to sleep so the support will make his birthday extra special

Molly has saved all his cards secretly and will reveal them to Roman tonight when he gets in from school

Cards and gifts came from as far away as Denmark, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Australia

‘He has delayed speech, I think he's fine but other people struggle to understand him.

‘If any school parents could ask their children to say happy birthday to him on the or maybe give him a card if in his class - I know it would mean the world to him to feel special for once and popular.’

The post was shared by friends, and friends of friends, and quickly started to gather momentum.

Soon Molly started to receive messages from complete strangers, from as far away as Uganda, asking to send little Roman a birthday card.

Over the next couple of weeks the cards continued to arrive from countries including Dubai, Denmark, Austria, Egypt, New Zealand, Finland, Germany and Norway.

Roman, a keen film fan, who dreams of one day becoming a movie director, even received packages from NASA, 20th Century Fox, and a letter from the director of GI Joe - Jon M Chu.

Molly said: ‘The compassion shown has been truly inspiring.

‘I was hoping a couple of school people might give him a card, but it went viral with people offering to send him cards from all over the world.

Roman, pictured snorkelling, has received hundreds of birthday cards from around the world

‘Within 12 hours my post had been shared around the world from friends to their friends and beyond.

‘The moment I realised it had gone global was when someone in Uganda messaged me and asked if they could send my son Roman a birthday card.

‘It's been amazing, I'm so overwhelmed with people's kindness.

‘When he went into school this morning there were children surrounding the gates waiting to give him a card.

‘He came down the stairs in floods of tears and flung himself into my arms saying “I'm crying with happiness mummy”.’

Roman turns 11 today, and will be opening his treasure trove of birthday cards with dad Ian, 40, and brothers Xander, 13, and Byron, 9 in their home in Newton Abbot.

To wish Roman a happy birthday visit Cards for Roman Facebook page.