A South Woodford charity started by two parents with an autistic son marks ten years on Sunday with hopes of causing a Twitter storm.

Ivan and Charika Corea started the UK Autism Foundation and came up with the idea of Autism Sunday, an annual day of advocacy for people with autism which has now become a global event.

The charity, based in George Lane, South Woodford, will mark the tenth anniversary of it this Sunday at All Saints’ Church, Inmans Row, Woodford Green, as part of the church service.

They have contacted churches across Redbridge and nationwide to do the same.

On Sunday, they also hope to get #autismsunday trending on Twitter to raise awareness of the disability and tomorrow, Mr Corea will go to Downing Street to hand in an award for the Prime Minister in recognition of his support for autism.

The couple’s son Charin, 16, a student at St John’s Roman Catholic School, Chigwell, has the lifelong developmental disability that affects how people communicate and relate to other people.

Mr Corea said: “We’ve asked churches to remember people with autism as part of their services.

“And we want people to tweet to celebrate the 67 million people with autism around the world.

“It started in our front room without any funding and is now an international event.

“We thought the faith community could play a role in raising awareness of autism.

“We had our first service in St Paul’s Cathedral.”

Since its inception, the day has received messages of support from the Pope, Princes William and Harry and Sir Cliff Richard among others.

And it has been celebrated in countries including the Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and the USA.

Mr Corea is calling on the coalition government to protect the vulnerable when considering welfare reforms.

The service begins at 11am.

For more information visit www.autismsunday.co.uk.