FUNDRAISERS are trying to raise enough money to help a Teesside teenager overcome serious communications problems.

Leanne Joyce, from Dormanstown, developed encephalitis as a baby, leaving her unable to speak and causing paralysis in her left arm.

Now a pub crawl has been organised to pay for a speech aid which will "talk" for her.

Regulars at the Kingfisher pub, in Dormanstown, plan to visit 30 pubs in Redcar and Marske for the effort, on Saturday.

Leanne's parents, Nicola and Gary, are set to join in the pub crawl.

Organisers have so far raised £350 and said they were confident of getting enough cash for the specialist equipment, which is expected to cost about £2,500.

Leanne currently communicates using sign language but finds it frustrating as she is only able to use one hand and many people don't understand sign language.