A designer who was forced to put her successful business up for sale due to the worsening of her ME has found a buyer for it.

Former Romford teacher Debbie Deboo, 44, told the Recorder last week about how living with the chronic fatigue illness meant that she was unable to devote enough of her time to her business Glamsticks – which makes customised crutches and has had many celebrity customers.

Since then, after listening to several enquiries she has successfully sold the business.

Sharon Farley-Mason, from Lancashire, will be buying the company from the former Collier Row resident who moved to Northern Ireland earlier this year.

Sharon said: “What Debbie did was fantastic, really brilliant. I’ve inherited a massive waiting list from her.

“It was her baby so I’ll keep her name on it and her video on the website.

“Being disabled myself and with a disabled husband it was something that I thought I would really like to take on.”

Debbie is currently teaching Sharon how to make the customised walking-aids.

Glamsticks’ celebrity customers have included Hollyoaks actress Kelly-Marie Stewart, Heather Mills, former Eastenders actor David Proud, and Paralympic archer Leigh Walmsley.