TORRENTIAL rain hasn't stopped a local builder starting work on the extension that will give bed-ridden Sean Tingle a new lease of life.

Building contractors KW Bell Group have taken on the task – following our appeal – to provide the ill Coleford dad-of-one with his own bedroom and wetroom at his family home in The Paddocks.

It is hoped that work will be finished in six weeks – just in time for Christmas!

Neville Turner, who has worked for Keith Bell for 35 years, dug the footings out for the 15ft by 20ft extension by hand as they couldn't fit the machine through the side gate into the rear garden.

Mr Bell said: "Neville is a hard worker and has dug all the footings out by hand. We like to do something for others but the problem is finding enough men to do the job as we're really busy.

"A lot of local businesses have offered to provide us with building material which is a great help. We aim to hopefully finish the work in six weeks."

Mr Tingle has been almost confined to a hospital bed in the living room for the last two and half years because he can't get upstairs following years of bad health, brought on by an insect bite he had while on honeymoon with his wife, Lisa, in the Dominican Republic in 2004.

Lisa said: "It'll be the first Christmas in a while I'll be able to put up a tree. I never thought the work would happen as we needed a further £10,000 on top of the £30,000 grant the Forest Council gave us to do the work.

"The amount of support has been amazing, we are so grateful to Keith and Neville for helping us. At the moment, Sean only has a bath once a week as he can't walk up the stairs and obviously he has no privacy being in the living room."

Family friend and one of the appeal organisers, Jenny Roberts added: "The response has been phenomonal and it is impossible to thank everybody individually. If it wasn't for Mr Bell this project wouldn't have happened. We are continuing to raise money now to buy bits and pieces Sean will need such as a TV and radio etc."

A family fun will be held on Sunday, October 26 at the Angel Hotel in Coleford from 12pm to raise money for this. Donations can also be made by searching SOS on http://www.gofundme.co.uk">www.gofundme.co.uk.

Sean joked: "I'll be able to have three showers a day if I wanted."