FRIENDS of a much-loved and well-respected mini-bus driver who took children to and from Treetops School are rallying round to try and help him in his hour of need after his leg was amputated.

Pete Shanks, 64, was a driver for a company who help to get special needs children to and from Treetops in Grays.

He has worked and helped children there for many years until he had to have an operation late last year to combat a blood clot and eventually suffered amputation of his leg.

Mr Shanks went into Basildon Hospital on 12 November becasue of the clot and had an initial amutation. An infection led to a further amputation above the knee.

He was discharged on 27 December.

Without the ability to drive, he lost his job and subsequently his home in his mobile home in West Hanningfield, near Chelmsford, was deemed unsuitable for him to continue to live in because of difficulties with accessibility.

Chelmsford City Council has the responsibility to house him but had no local suitable accommodation – so since late December Pete has been in the Travelodge in Great Dunmow, in north Essex, making contact with his hometown family and friends and people in Thurrock very difficult. His immediate family live in Basildon, but do not drive.

Mr Shanks said he is struggling to cope with his circumstances.

"I'm on a right downer. I'm trying to do the exercises for my leg but it's hard when you're feeling down.

"There's nowhere to go, nothing to do, I'm just sitting in a room.

He added he cannot not afford the restaurant food and mostly made instant soups or noodles using a kettle to feed himself.

His friend Nick Mendrys, who said he had known him for 40 years, was worried about Mr Shank's mental and physical health.

"How he's being treated is just disgusting," said Mr Mendrys who took part in a BBC East news report (click on link above) about his friend's condition.

"I just can't believe it. Peter's paid into the system all his life, and we're getting nothing at all."

To try and help him a fundraising donation page has been set up by another friend, Joanne Eaton, who said: "Pete has very little support. We wanted to give him something to help make life a little easier so anything you afford to give will be greatly appreciated."

The fundraising page can be found here.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/joanne-eaton?utm_term=jdPAWPAKG&fbclid=IwAR1BuiZh1wbIkn0mBqlNbEzn_YXTP8RoZlKPuIJbgncNEHCgh06vzhsIyNo

Chelmsford City Council says Mr Shanks' situation "under constant review".