A DISABLED woman in Barnoldswick has a new found sense of freedom thanks to an invention first highlighted on the television programme Tomorrow's World.

Forty-seven-year-old Jeannie Crangle, of Rainhall Crescent, is the first person in West Craven and even the Pendle district to own a Powertrike, a device that motorises wheelchairs.

Jeannie has been in a wheelchair for the past three to four years and before the Powertrike had to rely on family and friends to help her manoeuvre around the town or on her mobility scooter.

But with the Powertrike, which was invented by an engineer who had a motorcycle accident and found himself in a wheelchair, Jeannie now has the freedom to move around on her own.

The Powertrike, which looks like the front part of a bicycle, fits on to the front of a wheelchair, is battery powered and has a top speed of 12 mph.

Jeannie said: "I used to be always frustrated because when I wanted to go out say to the library I had to call my daughter-in-law to come up to get me.

"She would then have to hang about waiting for me in the library until I was ready to go. This meant that I had to rush and I was also putting someone else out."

With the Powertrike though, which is a lot more narrow and lighter than a mobility scooter, Jeannie can drive straight into the library without needing the help of anyone else.

As her wheelchair is also attached to the Powertrike, Jeannie does not need to transfer from her wheelchair, as she has to do when using her scooter.

"It's allowed me to socialise a lot more. Normally when I used to visit my daughter-in-law I had to sit outside and drink a cup of coffee because I couldn't get my scooter in her house," Jeannie explained.

"My condition is never going to improve and I'm going to be in a wheelchair for life so I needed something that could give me that extra independence," she added.

The unusual invention has caused a few raised eyebrows in Barnoldswick and a degree of fascination from local children.

"I often get lads on push bikes going past and saying 'Cor, that's wicked!'" laughed Jeannie.

The Powertrike is also popular with Jeannie's dog.

"It's the first time my dog has been able to have a good run. Before I could throw a stick from my wheelchair, but now my dog can run by my side."

Jeannie added that in the future she was looking forward to doing things she had not been able to do on her own for long time including going to visit Colne's market.

To pay for the Powertrike, Jeannie had to take a loan out with the Yorkshire Bank. Jeannie's model is second-hand and cost £1,500, while brand-new models cost £2,500.

"Without the Yorkshire Bank loaning me this money I would not have been able to buy it. They were really good considering the fact I don't have a steady income," added Jeannie.

She went on to say that she wanted to highlight the benefits of the invention to other disabled people and show them how it could help change their life.