MOVE over Nick Knowles, Barnsley has its own 'DIY SOS' heroes.
These big-hearted chaps from Mason Building Contractors Ltd have spent weeks transforming a Dodworth house so a wheelchair-bound teenager can finally come home after seven months stuck in hospital.
Maisie Graham, 15, was struck down by a virus in April which left her paralysed from the chest down and wheelchair-bound and has been in hospital ever since waiting for her family home, on Keresforth Road, to adapted by the council.
That's when Lisa and Dean Mason stepped in, who run Mason Buildings Contractors Ltd based at Staincross.
The couple, whose daughters go to school with Maisie at Horizon Community College, came up with the idea to help after visiting her in hospital.
Amazingly, 12 companies agreed to help - donating about £20,000 of materials for the job so Dean and his team - Stephen Siddall, David Mason, John Goodfellow and Connor Duerden - could get to work.
In just four weeks they transformed the house by widening doorways so Maisie's wheelchair can fit through, raising internal floor levels so she doesn't need a ramp to get in and out of rooms and built an extension at the back of the house to create a wet room.
Those who helped make it happen are: Buildbase, AMCO plumbing and heating, Nick Firth Tiles, Barnsley Timber Merchants, DB Electrical Services, Ash Widowwson plumbing and heating services, SA Booth painting and decorators, MK Roofing, Daz and Ryan Plastering Services, Andy Holmes Tiling Services, Royston Window Company, Wayne Thresh Carpet Services and Mapp Carpets.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated October 30. **
