A DOUBLE amputee has been given a “life-changing” gift of a motorised wheelchair.

Thomas Lupton, 64, of Hilton Road, Darwen, lost both legs 40 years ago when a girder fell on him while working in a foundry.

Ever since, the free-lance artist has been confined to a manual wheelchair, but has found getting around more difficult in recent years.

Now Choice Mobility in Higher Eanam, Black-burn, has donated the £4,500 motorised chair to Mr Lupton, who is a regular customer in the shop.

Mr Lupton said: “It’s absolutely fantastic of them to do this for me.

“They said I was a deserving person, but I’m not sure.

“I can’t drive a car, but this new chair has a 25-mile range in one charge, so it means I can get around much more easily.

“The manual wheel-chair didn’t used to be a problem, but in recent years going up hills has become more of a struggle.

“This piece of equip-ment will be life-chan-ging.”

The gift will also mean that Mr Lupton will not have to use specially-adapted taxis as much in order to get to the town centre shops.

Neil Dearn, of Choice Mobility, said: “Myself and my business part-ner, Leon Catley, dec-ided that, with the business doing well since opening three years ago, we wanted to give something back to someone who was needy.

“We kept our eye out for people we regularly came into contact with, and after visiting Thomas recently, we thought he could do with a bit of a boost.

“The chair will mean much greater freedom and independence for him.

“And hopefully it will be the beginning of a positive phase in his life.”

Choice Mobility has also agreed to maintain the chair for Mr Lupton.