A LEGAL secretary is pleading for help in tracing the East Lancashire dad she has never met.

Donna Simpson, 28, of Barnstaple in north Devon is looking for Michael Charles Williams, who would be about 50 years old and whose last known address was in the Darwen area.

As well as being keen to build a relationship with her dad, there is also a medical reason for starting the hunt for him.

Four years ago, Donna was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, the most serious type usually diagnosed at birth.

At the moment she is responding to medication but must inject insulin four times a day and may need a liver and pancreas transplant in the future.

Her dad could be a match if she does need a transplant. Donna was spurred on by doctors demanding to know more about her family medical history.

There is no history of diabetes on her mum's side and her sister Michelle, 25, does not have the condition.

Donna, who has a son Brandon, eight, said: "When the doctors started asking about my family's medical back-ground there was not a lot I could tell them about my father."

Donna's mum met Mr Williams in Plymouth when she was 14 and moved to Darwen in 1978 for six months when she fell pregnant at 15.

Donna was born in the town on June 4, 1978, but her mum moved back to Plymouth and Donna lost contact with her dad. When her mother lived with Mr Williams in Darwen they stayed with his mum and two sisters. The father of the family lived in Plymouth which is how Donna's parents met.

Donna does not talk to her mother so has little information. She says her father is about 5ft 8in with dark hair and eyes.

Type One Diabetes is not hereditary, although doctors are not certain of the cause.

Lancashire Telegraph columnist Dr Tom Smith said: "It might be a gene fault both she and her dad carry so it would be good to find him and see what he knows about it."

Anyone with inform-ation should contact The Lancashire Telegraph newsdesk on 01254 298228 or email Donna on meteorasimpson@yahoo.co.uk