A SPECIALIST buggy is set to give a disabled great-grandfather a new lease of life allowing him to take part in sport for the first time in a decade.

Tony Tiller, 76, has complex regional pain syndrome, is unable to walk and can only use his hands for short periods.

The former crane driver at Parkeston quay has suffered from the condition for the past decade after spraining his knee.

It has stopped him from carrying on his work teaching drama to children with learning disabilities as well as from taking part in any sports.

But Harwich Indoor Bowls club, in Stour Close, Dovercourt has now bought its first Bradshaw buggy - a wheelchair designed especially for use on a bowls green or indoor bowls carpet.

Mr Tiller said: “It’s going to be somewhere for me to go, to make more friends and its a fun game.

“It’s going to be a new lease of life for me - it will be brilliant.

“I’m hoping this will encourage other disabled people to come and have a go too. I had a trial on one from Colchester and I quite enjoyed it.

“I’m sure there are other people like me that would love to play this sport.”

The specialist buggy is designed so it doesn’t damage a bowls green and wheels in the frame so the bowler can swing their arm freely to play.

“I was very active before I got this syndrome - a long time ago I used to play cricket and football.

Pam Bloom, bowls player and volunteer at the club, said the buggy, costing £2,300 was delivered on Sunday.

She said: “We had donations to cover the cost.

“We had someone who wanted to play bowls who is in a wheelchair and the only way to do it is with this proper buggy.

“Now it is here for the club to use forever, and this will open the game up to everyone, which will be lovely.

“If we can get more donations we’d like to get another one as I’m sure there are other people that would like to come and have a go.”