Michelle Lawson (40) suffered symptoms including paralysis and lung infections and six weeks ago was diagnosed with Lyme Disease – a rare and potentially fatal illness caused by a tick bite.

When Michelle, of Fleur Drive, first became ill doctors diagnosed chronic fatigue or stress but two years ago she became paralysed from the waist down for ten days.

Multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease were ruled out but doctors were mystified.

Michelle said: "I knew something was wrong but was told it was all in my head and even that I had paralysed myself through stress. I was put in a psychiatric ward for five weeks.

"It is a great relief to know what is wrong."

Michelle believes she was bitten while walking through fields training for a charity walk on the Great Wall of China.

She has been prescribed antibiotics, which are not available on the NHS and are not a guaranteed cure.

She said: "There is bacteria in my body and it can attach itself to muscle, affect my heart, lungs, anywhere. It has affected my brain and my balance.

"I have been taking the tablets for five weeks and look 100 per cent better.

"I have to keep testing my blood to check if the antibiotics are working so it is a case of wait and see."

Michelle lives with partner Stephen Stenhouse, sons Jake (17) and George Berry (16) and stepdaughter Sophie (14).

She said: "My friends and family have been so supportive. I don't know how I would have coped without them."

Rallying to raise funds for Michelle.

Michelle wants to raise awareness about the disease and said: "Most people have never heard of Lyme disease and wouldn't know what to do if they were bitten.

"The best thing to do is remove the tick, put it on some sticky tape and freeze it.

"That way if you do come down with something the tick can be used to diagnose it.

"It has devastated my life. I don't want it to happen to anyone else."

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 after several reported cases in Old Lyme, Connecticut, USA.

However, it has been known in Europe under different names since the 19th century.

The disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria called borrelia burgdorferi, which is passed to humans bitten by an infected tick.

Symptoms include a reddish skin rash, tiredness, headaches, joint pain and fever and, without treatment, may last for weeks or longer.

Rarely there are serious complications.

In some cases complications can occur several years later and can affect the nervous system, joints, heart and other tissues.

It is difficult to identify the bacteria so the internationally-recognised criteria for diagnosis of Lyme disease are based on tests that look for specific antibodies (products of a person's immune response to the infection) in the blood.