Autistic boy treated to 'drive-by' birthday celebration in lockdown

A boy living with autism has been treated to a lockdown celebration he will not forget, with dozens of people driving past his home in Melbourne's west today to wish him a happy birthday.

Residents in Sunbury stopped by from 9am today, beeping their horns and handing over presents, while birthday boy Sergei waved from the fence.

The six-year-old has been struggling to understand why he must stay home during coronavirus restrictions.

So last night, his mother Maria Schweitzer put a call out on Facebook, asking people within 5kms to drive by, beep and wish him a happy birthday.

"Every day when he wakes up - he'd ask me: 'mum is the COVID gone and did the police catch the COVID?'" she said.

Firefighters, paramedics and police were all among the well-wishers, turning a blind eye to any stretching of the stage four rules to instead control the traffic.

After just an hour, the family was overwhelmed with presents and cards.

"I've been a policeman for over 30 years, I've spent 20 years here in Sunbury and I've never seen anything like this before," Leading Senior Constable Leigh Johnson said.

The 'drive-by' party is a long way from the traditional celebration his family would have otherwise planned, but Sergei will not be forgetting turning six anytime soon.

"It's beautiful to see that there is such a community spirit in Sunbury and I'm very, very happy and proud to live in Sunbury," Ms Schweitzer said.