A COMMUNITY is rallying round to help a severely disabled woman get out of the house.

Kathryn Hills, 43, of Federation Terrace, Tantobie, near Stanley, has suffered from MS since April last year and been in a wheelchair since February.

She is now blind, paralysed down one side and unable to remember people she has known all her life.

Her husband, Rob, applied to Derwentside District Council for help converting the downstairs of their home to make it easier to care for her.

He was initially told he would have to contribute £800 to get a ground level toilet and shower, as well as a ramp from the door to the street.

But after submitting more up-to-date accounts from the garage he runs with a partner, he was told he had to foot the £12,000 bill himself.

Derwentside District Council's head of environmental health Norris Oyston said all applications for adaptations were subject to a means test.

He said: "I certainly have some sympathy with the couple, but the local authority is not in a position to move outside the regulations that exist. Our hands are tied."

When friends at The Commercial pub in Tantobie heard, they said they would use £1,500 from a charity auction and fun run to help make the alterations.

Local tradesmen have said if the money is used to buy materials they will do the work for free.

Mr Hills said: "At the minute, if there was an emergency I would not be able to get her out of the house.

"It is a dangerous situation to be in.

"We have worked all our lives and the minute we ask for something back there is nothing they can do.

"I feel the council and Government have turned their backs on us but the community has really come through for us."