A SINGLE mum has been left ‘desperate’ by the refusal of a council grant vital to adapting her home for her severely disabled daughter.

Carolyn Abram has to carry her seven-year-old daughter Leila-Rose Ainsworth up and down stairs to the bath and bedroom.

Now she is hoping her MP can help find a solution to her need for a downstairs extension before her back gives way.

The mother-of-three’s youngest daughter has cerebral palsy, brain damage and arthritis and spends several days a week at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The 37-year-old has to carry her daughter up and down the stairs at the rented three-bedroomed house they occupy on Birtwistle Street in Great Harwood for a bath and to the bedroom she shares with sister Georgia, 19.

Miss Abram has suffered increasing back pain and problems since the birth of 13-year-old son George which the constant trips up and down stairs have worsened.

She applied for a £30,000 grant from Hyndburn Council with the support of her social worker for an extension to provide a downstairs bedroom and wetroom for Leila-Rose and ramp for her wheelchair, currently kept at her school, St Hubert’s RC Primary.

Last month the council turned down her application.

Leader Cllr Miles Parkinson has promised to ‘explore other options’ with her and her support workers.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones has promised to see what he can do to find a solution to her problems.

Miss Abram said: “I am desperate, devastated and at my wits’ end.

“Leila needs carrying up and down the stairs to the bathroom and bedroom.

“We rent a three-bedroomed semi-detached house from a friend which is unsuitable for fitting a hoist which means I can’t even have a carer to help.

“I have had a bad back since the birth of my son and the constant carrying of Leila-Rose has made it much worse and more painful.

“With the agreement of my friend, I applied for a £30,000 Disabled Facilities Grant from Hyndburn Council.

“The officials came round, inspected the house and refused it and wished me luck in finding alternative funding or accommodation.

“I just don’t know what to do. I really need these alterations. My back won’t allow me to keep carrying Leila-Rose around.

“My social worker supported the application. We also asked for a ramp so we could keep my daughter’s wheelchair at home rather than having to leave it at school.

“I have now asked Graham Jones to see what he can do to help – either to get the grant or find more suitable, already adapted accommodation. This is my last resort.”

Cllr Parkinson, who declined to discuss the circumstances of the case, said: “We are keen to help and we have a caring and dedicated team who always do everything they possibly can to help people with disabilities adapt their homes to make them more accessible.

“Last year we organised major adaptation works for 90 residents and offered help and advice to many more.

“Where it’s not possible to carry out works, due to the site or layout of a property, we always liaise with the applicants and support workers to explore other options.

“We’re awaiting the outcome of discussions between the client and other professionals in relation to this case.”

Mr Jones said: “I shall look into this difficult case and see whether there is anything I can do.

He added: "Local councils are facing challenging financial times due to government financial cuts.”