A disabled designer from Collier Row has won a national award for inventing a product that makes using crutches glamorous.

Debbie Deboo’s GlamSticks – designer crutches and walking sticks – scooped the ‘mobility product of the year’ prize at the Disability Motoring UK Awards at the Goodwood Festival last week.

Debbie said: “I must admit I was pretty shell shocked actually.”

She started accessorising the crutches two years ago, having earlier had to leave her job as a teacher after being diagnosed with M.E.

She added: “It has saved my life really. It took me a long time to come to terms with my illness.

“I can still get really depressed about it, but then I get an email from someone saying GlamSticks have made a difference to their lives, given confidence to go out again, I don’t feel so bad anymore.”