A Conservative club decided to help one of its own members, who has a degenerative muscle and nerve disease, giving him back his freedom.

Chris Deamer from Sittingbourne was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease in his late 40s after a lifetime of struggling with mobility issues in his arms and legs.

It causes dexterity issues and means the 70-year-old suffers with chronic fatigue and now uses a wheelchair.

He has been going to Milton Regis Conservative Club, based in Church Street, since he was young and joined the committee in 1967.

The club held a fun day on Sunday and raised more than £2,000 to get him a mobility scooter, to ease the pressure on him and his wife Lesley.

Sharon Cotton, fundraising committee member, said: “He’s a Sittingbourne lad and used to work in the camera shop in town.

“He does a lot of things for the club and is mad about steam trains and the railways.

“He was only diagnosed in his 40s and his movement has deteriorated but he always tries to take part in things for the club.

“It’s really nice to do something for one of your own so we’re after a mobility scooter for him.”

Members managed to raise enough for not only the mobility scooter, but for a ramp to be installed at his home so he can get in and out more easily.

The fun day at the group’s HQ had live music, a hog roast, disco, raffle and tin can alley.

Vi Cowie, also on the committee, said: “We hope to get him the chair as soon as possible, because his mobility is so restricted it will be such a relief for Leslie as she won’t have to push him around.

“He’s had to miss out on some of the trips we’ve done with the club so this will give him back his mobility and freedom do what he wants.”