A dedicated autistic volunteer who worked more than 600 hours for Waitrose was let go when his mother asked supermarket bosses if he could be paid.

Tom Boyd, 27, had been volunteering twice a week for more than four years, pouring all of his heart and effort from 9.30am to 2pm, stacking shelves and unloading stock at their Cheadle Hulme store.

His mother, Frances Boyd said on Facebook that he did it ‘purely because he wanted to belong, contribute and make a difference.’

Despite his commitment and reliability, problems arose when she and his support workers asked Waitrose if there was a possibility he could have a few hours of paid work.

The request was not for charity but recognition of the time and unpaid work he had dedicated to the store.

It is understood that the branch took the r

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