AN appeal for help to document a father's 16-year fight to get treatment for his brain injured son has been granted thanks to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Les Swain, 51, of Kipling Place, Great Harwood, appealed to budding writers to help him put into words his struggle to get appropriate help for his son, Karl, 25, in October.

When Karl was nine years old he fell through a factory roof sustaining severe head injuries. He spent the next ten years in and out of hospital.

The fall left him with a fractured skull and collarbone, and put him in a coma for 25 days.

As a result of his injuries, Karl suffered violent mood swings, and spent the next 15 years in hospital care.

Les asked authors to contact him if they were interested in writing a book about his experiences so others in the same position may benefit or be comforted by their story.

After seeing the appeal, freelance writer, Dr Suzanne Harris, from Dudley, offered her services.

Work on the book, which is expected to be at least 40,000 words long - over 175 pages - will start this month.

Mr Swain, said: "I am really in a state of shock and can't honestly believe that this is going to happen.

"Suzanne sent me a text message initially and since then we have spoken on the phone many times about our plans for the book and she has sent me lots of things she has had published before. I can't wait to meet up and get the ball rolling. This is our chance to tell the truth about how the system has let down my son Karl and others like him and will be an interesting read for those people who have no experience of head injuries as well." Dr Harris said: "After talking to the family on the telephone it is a pleasure and an honour to write the book for them. The book will take about eight months to write and I have spoken to my publisher and they are willing to review the manuscript."n it this month."