A keen footballer who was told his worrying symptoms were just down to "stress and anxiety" has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease at just 26.

Luke Lawes started to experience random muscle twitches around his body and went to the doctors on multiple occasions.

He said every time, doctors would dismiss him, telling him there was nothing wrong because he was a "healthy looking lad".

But when the keen footballer, from Frodsham, in Cheshire, started to fall over when running, he said he "knew for certain something was wrong".

He said: "The doctors kept sending me home telling me there was nothing wrong and wouldn't do any tests because I was a healthy looking lad.

"But gradually, my walking was affected and I was referred to a neurologist for a second time."

Two years on from his diagnosis Luke, now aged 28, has deteriorated to the point he can no longer take his beloved rescue dog for a walk.

Now his family are trying to raise funds for a special off-road wheelchair which costs around £11,000.

They say the lightweight three-wheel wheelchair would give Luke back some of the freedom and independence he has lost.

Luke's sister Jen told the Liverpool Echo: "He's not doing that great. He can't really move his arms or legs very effectively and needs support to walk.

"He's doing remarkably well overall but I imagine he has very low points. Sometimes I can just see that he is completely fed up.

"He's shown remarkable strength, given the journey he's been on, from first finding out and being devastated to just finding the motivation to go out and embrace whatever life he can and still have exciting experiences and travel.

"He's one of those people who could learn a sport in the morning and be comparatively better than average at it by the afternoon.

"Getting the off-road wheelchair would make such a difference. It can go on any terrain."

Speaking of her family's pride in how Luke is coping, she said: "He is an inspiration. It's been such a horrible time for all of us but the fact that he is showing such strength is incredible.

"It enables everybody else to see this situation in a better light than they might otherwise."