A MUM has launched a campaign to raise cash to buy special off-road wheelchairs for her disabled twin daughters.

Bolton College student Jessica and her sister Melissa Allan, aged 19, have been wheelchair bound since suffering brain haemorrhages at birth. The haemorrhage resulted in them both having cerebral palsy and being unable to walk.

Mother Lindsey, of Newquay Close, Ainsworth, is now fundraising to try and buy the £1,600 multi terrain wheelchairs to enable them to enjoy the outdoors.

The 45-year-old explained: "They both love being outside but unfortunately the day to day chairs that they have just aren’t suitable for anything other than a flat path. The chairs that they need are so expensive. We manage with every day expenses which are increased because of the girls extra needs but we are struggling to find the money needed for the wheelchairs. We want to give them something that will make life just a little bit better for them."

Melissa is at Bolton College studying a sports course and plays power chair football for the Bolton Bullets while Jessica is currently on an enrichment programme at Birtenshaw College.

Mrs Allan and her lorry driver husband Jason wanted to give the girls the opportunity to enjoy more of the outdoors.

The all-terrain wheelchairs would enable the family of four to get out and about in the countryside.

Mrs Allan, an office manager at Kaleidoscope Brokerage, Bury, said: "We just want them to be able to take them places and let them do things that other people take for granted like going for a walk on a Sunday or go to the seaside. They both love the beach but it's really hard for them to go as the chairs aren't suitable for the sand.

"The girls are so fun loving and they are up for anything. It would be lovely to be able to support them to do things that they have previously been unable to access."

A family friend suggested that a justgiving donation page could be a good way to raise the cash needed for the new chairs.

Mrs Allan added: "The support already has been amazing. We have already raised 40 per cent of the target and it’s so nice to see how lovely people are. It's overwhelming that other people think so much of our family to donate money."

Donations can be given online at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/jessandmelallan