A woman with severe autism has written and performed a Christmas song that has been shared across the world on social media.

Gemma Cooper, who plays the cornet in Gwaun Cae Gurwen Brass Band, wrote Gemma's Gift For Christmas, about autism awareness, with her teacher.

The 22-year-old’s composition has been viewed more than 52,000 times and shared by hundreds on the World Autism Awareness Day page on Facebook.

"Music has helped her a lot to get through her disabilities," her mother, Julie Morgan told the BBC.

After writing the lyrics with her mother, Ms Cooper's music teacher Christopher Bond wrote the accompanying music.

They posted a video of her performing the song online and it "went through the roof", Ms Morgan said.

Ms Morgan said Mr Bond had been "like a godsend" to her daughter.

Ms Cooper taught herself to play different instruments in her bedroom for years and has even performed the song in front of an audience of 30.

Gemma was born healthy and hit all of her milestones, but from the age of nine she started regressing, losing the skills she had learnt.

"She wasn't coping in school and wouldn't stay in the classes. She'd be walking the corridors and everything changed," Ms Morgan said.

After she was diagnosed with autism, "she went through a time where she just wanted to stay in bed all the time".

"If it wasn't for her music, I wouldn't like to think. She was in a bad place," Ms Morgan said.

Mr Bond, a musician and a brass teacher, has been teaching Ms Cooper at Tongwynlais Academy in Cardiff where she has been taking cornet lessons.

Initially Gemma was not keen on singing in front of him so they had to sing the song together. But as time went on, she became more confident and he was able to just accompany her on the piano.

A spokesperson for GCG Brass Band said: "We continue to be super proud of this young lady.

"Gemma is a fantastic person and a great delight to have in the band.

"We are super pleased to be able to support her music making and even more pleased to all be her friend.

"Team GCG just wouldn’t be the same without her. Well done Gemma Cooper."

A National Autistic Society Cymru spokesperson said it was "wonderful to hear Gemma's story".