Chelsea with parents Nikki and Mike Bloomfield, brother Jordan and volunteer climbers. 28/10/04KIND-HEARTED parish councillors in Tidworth were heading north to Snowdonia last Friday, to help raise £3,700 for a little girl in desperate need of a new electric wheelchair.

Five members of the council have taken it upon themselves to raise the money, after learning of the plight of seven-year-old Chelsea Bloomfield.

Chelsea, who lives with her family in the garrison town, has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk.

The only way she can move about independently is in an electric wheelchair, which she can operate with her right hand.

But the bubbly girl has outgrown her old chair and at the moment is having to rely on being pushed around in a manual one.

To make matters worse, this wheelchair doesn't fit in the family car, and Chelsea has been forced to miss outings with her brothers and sister.

Parents Nikki and Michael decided it was time for an upgrade and set about raising the £3,700 needed for the new wheelchair.

"I put a tin in one of the local shops and the owner, Andrew Connelly, happened to be a Tidworth parish councillor," said Nikki (32), an outreach worker for adults with learning difficulties.

"Basically, he's taken it upon himself to take it further and organise this trek up Mount Snowdon.

"He said he wanted to make Tidworth and the surrounding area much more aware of special needs - I think that's absolutely brilliant."

The five councillors, together with Chelsea's father and her uncle, Brian, set off from the family's home in Ash Close on Friday morning.

Chelsea was one of the many people eagerly waving them off and Nikki said she was very excited that her Daddy was climbing a mountain for her new wheelchair.

She added: "The one we want is one that comes apart, so we will be able to put it in the car and take her on holidays.

"It will also help her to play with her younger brother, Jordan.

"He's just started running around, whereas Chelsea can't in a manual chair, but she could in a powered one."

Chelsea was born just 27 weeks into her mother's pregnancy and weighed less than two pounds.

Shortly afterwards, she had a brain haemorrhage that affected her mobility.

Now she only has the use of her right arm.

"This new chair will make an amazing difference," said Nikki.

"I want to thank everyone for helping to make this possible."

Anyone wishing to contribute to Chelsea's wheelchair should contact Nikki, on 01980 601595.