A FLUTE teacher with MS is to get a specially-adapted wheelchair so she can continue her lessons, thanks to the efforts of friends and staff at a West Bridgford bar.

Julie Howard, 52, was first diagnosed with MS at the age of 25 and had to stop working as a nurse shortly afterwards as her condition deteriorated.

She then took up teaching the flute but her condition has worsened over the past 18 months, and she has found she has less energy and it is more difficult to stand.

She wanted to get a special wheelchair to help her to continue her teaching, but thought this was impossible when she found it would cost more than £6,500.

But over the past two months staff at Belle & Jerome in Central Avenue, as well as family and friends, have worked together to raise the cash.

Her daughter Laura-Claire, 24, is a musician and a regular performer at Belle & Jerome and said she had been supported by staff to hold events to raise the money.

Last Saturday she did her final fundraising event at the bar, raising around £200 by performing requests on the night, watched by her mum.

Julie said: "It was an amazing night. I've never heard Laura-Claire sing rock before but because it was a request evening I got to hear her sing Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.

"The staff at Belle & Jerome have been golden. They have been so kind. Anything that they could possibly do they said yes to.

"I was diagnosed with MS when I was 25 and I have gone into the last stage in the past 18 months. I've had to cut down on my pupils and I've got a carer now who is great.

"MS changed my life completely. I had to give up nursing six months after I was diagnosed because I went downhill quite quickly. Then I had Laura-Claire and one day when she was 4 she said she wanted to play the piano.

"Her instructor said they would teach her if I learnt the flute."

Julie said she hoped to get the wheelchair by the end of this month. "I will be able to do duets with my pupils and reach things out of cupboards," she said. "All this I haven't been able to do for the past 18 months."

The wheelchair also fully reclines which Julie said would help her to relax and take a break, rather than having to go home to sleep.

Family friend John Whelan, of Saxondale, kicked off the fundraising when he did a sponsored ride from Land's End to John O'Groats and raised more than £3,000 for the appeal.

Since then Julie said family and friends, as well as staff at Belle & Jerome have worked tirelessly to raise the cash.

She said: "It's been amazing. I actually didn't ask for any of this.

"Even the little ones I teach have said they would do a car wash for me. The support has been overwhelming."

Rob Darby, owner of Belle & Jerome recently did a half marathon and raised £900 to boost the appeal and the bar offered prizes for people to guess how long it would take him.

Laura-Claire, also of Radcliffe-on-Trent, said: "I think the fundraising has gone really well, a lot better than we first expected. It's amazing how people react to that sort of thing. There's people that we haven't spoken to for ages that have sent cheques for £300 in the post.

"We only thought we would be able to raise about half.

"I have done regular gigs at Belle & Jerome and built up quite a family relationship with the place."