A MUM-of-three who suffers with multiple sclerosis (MS) has praised a new storyline in the Hollyoaks TV soap highlighting the condition.

Sophie Allen, who lives in Cinderford with husband Roy, 36, daughter Felicity, eight, and twins Lottie and Pippa, four, discovered she had MS after struggling to take part in a ‘mum’s race’ at her eldest’s school.

The 35-year-old hopes that by sharing her story alongside the new storyline she can raise awareness of what it is really like being a mum with an incurable neurological condition.

In the soap, main character Nancy Osborne (played by Jessica Fox) is diagnosed with the condition and experiences debilitating symptoms.

Mrs Allen said she

first started experiencing strange symptoms more than eight years ago when she noticed disturbances in her vision. She was told MS could be a possibility, but never received a formal diagnosis.

Her vision improved and she figured the symptoms had passed until 2014 when she tried to take part in her eldest daughter’s sports day and her legs refused to work properly.

“I tried to run, but I had no coordination at all,” she said. “I said it must be because I’d just had twins, thinking there might be something wrong with my back or pelvis.

“I was known to my girls as being wobbly, so everyone laughed it off. But as time went by, my coordination and the funny feeling in my legs and feet just got worse.”

She was referred to a neurologist and given an MRI scan in August 2015 that revealed she had relapsing MS.

“Part of me knew deep down that something was wrong, but it’s the last thing you expect when you are a healthy wife and mother of three young children,” added Sophie.

“MS is unpredictable and really challenging, but I’m still determined to keep life as normal as possible for my girls. In our family there’s no such thing as ‘can’t’.

“I think it helps my girls be more compassionate and determined when they see me struggle but carry on regardless.

“I think it’s great that Hollyoaks is highlighting that young families, in their prime of life and fitness, can be just as easily affected by this life-changing condition.

“They’ve done a good job to show how younger people can struggle with everyday tasks, and how MS can happen to anyone, no matter how old you are.”

MS affects more than 100,000 people in the UK. It is often painful and exhausting and can cause walking, moving, seeing, thinking and feeling problems.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the MS Society, said: “It’s great to see that Hollyoaks is featuring a new storyline about multiple sclerosis. This is a really powerful opportunity to raise awareness of just how life-changing a diagnosis can be.

“We’re looking forward to following Nancy’s journey with MS. We’d encourage anyone going through similar experiences to contact our helpline – 0808 800 8000.”