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Three vehicles styled on the Transformer Autobots which feature in a TV and movie series were driven to Devon as a special Christmas present to a seriously ill young fan.

Family and friends of Daniel Downing, who is terminally ill with a brain tumour, got together with motor enthusiasts to set up the visit.

A large crowd of young sci-fi fans, and older car enthusiasts, turned out at Stonehouse Creek in Plymouth to see what happened when Daniel was visited by good-guys Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and their arch foe Barricade.

Daniel, who was diagnosed with the brain cancer pontine glioma in the summer of 2017, was delighted. His mum Steph said the gesture was a wonderful way of brightening her little fighter’s day and taking his mind off his illness.

“This means a lot,” she said. “It’s something that will probably never happen again – we don’t know how long he has left.

“But we are trying to make it more special.

“He’s a boy,” she added. “So he just loves anything to do with cars – and Transformers.”

(Image: William Telford)

Family friends, including parents of Daniel’s school chums and the Teddy Bear Run charity event, rallied to bring the trio of vehicles to Plymouth.

Optimus Prime, the hero of the Transformers franchise, is, when not a gigantic robot, disguised as an American Peterbilt 379 truck.

And the lorry, owned by toy corporate Hasbro, made a long and gruelling trip to get to the Ocean City.

However, it didn’t come from quite as far as the planet Cybertron – it drove down from Scunthorpe.

(Image: William Telford)

“It’s an 800 mile round trip,” said the vehicle’s driver Andy Graves. “I drove it down just for this.

“It’s the second time I’ve made the trip. I drove down last weekend, to see Daniel in Cornwall, but he was too poorly.

“So we said we’d come again when he was better and we’ve come as soon as we could.”

Andy, who after leaving Plymouth was heading to Hull so Optimus Prime could meet another very sick young lad, said there was a reason the robot was staying in truck mode.

“He can’t turn into a robot because there are too many people here,” he said. “That’s what I’m telling them anyway.”

(Image: William Telford)

Darren Thomas, who drove Bumblebee explained the car is an American Camaro, and owned by 247 Limos, in Cornwall.

He drove the car from Camborne to see Daniel and said: “They (the company) asked if I’d do it and I said: ‘I’m there’. Everyone pulls together when you need it most.”

Tony Rice drove from Bridgwater, Somerset, in the US Mustang which he owns and has had decorated to look like evil Decepticon Barricade.

(Image: William Telford)

“This is my only car,” he said. “I also dress up as its robot form as well. My costume is eight feet tall.

“I do it for charity work. I’ve raised more than £100,000 in three years.”

Mark Fletcher helped organise the Transformers’ visit and said he’s been part of a campaign which had seen Hot Wheels toy cars sent to Daniel from all over the world.

(Image: William Telford)

Daniel now has about 1,000 of the collectable models, but Mark said: “We thought we would get some real cars for him to see.”

And Lee Percy, dad of one of Daniel’s best pals, five-year-old Gethyn Percy, said the fun didn’t stop after the vehicles drove away.

A party had been arranged for Daniel and his classmates from Eggbuckland Vale Primary School.

And Optimus Prime gave Daniel a lift to it.

(Image: William Telford)

“Daniel is a lovely boy and very positive and happy,” Lee said. “To go through what he has gone through and to stay so positive, well, he’s an inspiration.

“And Steph is phenomenal. The strength she shows is fantastic.”

A Just Giving page set up for Daniel's family has raised more than £18,000 to pay for family expenses as the boy is treated in Bristol. Visit the page by clicking here.