A MULTIPLE sclerosis patient has got a £1,500 chair to ease the strain on his back, thanks to his former employer.

Les Willans, 39, of Stargate, near Ryton, Gateshead, bought the electrically-powered chair following a donation from gas pipeline company Transco.

Mr Willans retired from his job as an information technology systems officer five years ago.

Since then, he has shrugged off his worsening condition to campaign for disabled rights, including persuading Newcastle United bosses to allow more disabled people to become season ticket holders at St James' Park.

He said: "I can spend up to 16 hours a day sitting down. This can be very painful because of the pressure on my legs and lower back.

"The new chair means I can lift my legs and change my posture to shift the weight and ease the pain."

Transco's asset manager, Chris Gorman, said the company was keen to support people in the communities where it worked.

He said: "Les Willans has not let his condition stop him striving for a better life for others like himself. We hope this new chair will make his own quality of life a little better too."