A couple are looking for a sponsor to help them start a facility for children with cerebral palsy.

Rebecca and Martin Lock, of Dragon Close, Burnham, have a four-year-old daughter, Honey, who suffers from the disease, and want to help other children in the area get better care.

They now want to start a centre to provide conductive education – a treatment method which teaches youngsters with cerebral palsy basic things, such as sitting on the toilet and eating – as they feel that normal schools cannot cater adequately for their needs.

Mrs Lock, 36, whose other daughter Summer is now almost a year old, said: “The treatment teaches Honey independent living, things you take for granted, but Honey needs to be taught them from the start.

“She is due to start at St Mary’s Primary School in September. They have never had someone like Honey and they are quite nervous about having her, and we are worried about it, too.

“We are looking to help other children now.

“We want to start a centre for children like Honey in the whole of mid-Essex. These kids really need it. I feel like I have been to the end of the world and back for something for my daughter.

“We have had to go to London, to Birmingham, and you cannot do that every day.

“We are going to ring round a few companies to try to get a sponsor for it and see how we go from there.”

The family have been helped out by a fundraising group, the Friends of Honey Lock, who have helped raise money to pay for a Hungarian expert in conductive education, Agnes Milkos, to come over and work with Honey.

She is living with the family for two weeks and already Mrs Lock has seen improvements.

Mrs Lock added: “Unfortunately, the local services are lacking and are not going to change her life.

“Since Agnes has been here we have seen wonderful improvements in Honey.”