A NORTH-EAST man has organised a fundraising event to help buy vital equipment for his two-year-old granddaughter.

After Bethany Tayla Woods was born, it became clear that there was something wrong with her hands and feet.

Tests, including an MRI scan, and later a muscle biopsy in Addenbrookes hospital, in Cambridge, confirmed that Bethany has a rare form of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD).

This means her muscles are not producing the protein needed to make her strong enough to crawl or walk.

Bethany's mother Treena Woods was born in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, and went to school there with brothers Gary and Peter, until they moved to Ipswich with their mother.

Treena's father, Geoff Nunn, who lives in Ferryhill, County Durham, is joining in the fundraising efforts to help Bethany.

Mr Nunn said: "Bethany is bright and intelligent and can talk like any other child of her age but, due to the very rare nature of her particular strain of CMD, we do not know what the future holds for her.

"Bethany is well loved by all her family and anyone else who has the pleasure of meeting her, which is why The Bethany Tayla Woods Fund has been established to raise funds for all the specialist equipment she will need to enhance her quality of life."

Bethany needs a wheelchair, which will cost about £8,000, and a walking frame, which will cost about £2,000.

A fundraising event will be held on Friday, October 10, in Newton Aycliffe's Horndale Social Club, which is not charging for the use of its premises.

The Candlelight Folk Club is helping to organise and present the event, which will start at 8pm.

Tickets, cost £3 and are available from Neil or Babs on (01325) 301534, or Dawn on (01388) 773665.