Farmer's chronic fatigue captured in photos

Andrew Jackson was diagnosed with ME 13 years ago

The struggles of a farmer living with a chronic condition which leaves him exhausted for days is to feature in a photographic exhibition.

Andrew Jackson of Littlebeck Farm, near Penrith, Cumbria, has myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

The 58-year-old said he wanted to raise awareness of the "debilitating" condition, which was making him progressively weaker and forced him to sometimes lie in a darkened room to manage the symptoms.

Documentary film-maker and photographer Jeremy Jeffs captured Mr Jackson's life in pictures while managing chronic pain and fatigue.

Mr Jackson, a fourth generation beef and sheep farmer, was diagnosed with the condition following a farming accident 13 years ago.

The images will form part of an exhibition, presented by The ME Association, at the Oxo Tower Wharf on London's South Bank from 24 to 28 September.

Mr Jackson said his symptoms were "a significant barrier" to his work on the farm and social life and his wife Yvette and son Kieran stepped in to help.

Mr Jackson said lying in a darkened room helped ease his symptoms

He said he could no longer clip sheep, a job he once enjoyed, because he did not have the strength to hold the animals.

"As each year ticks by, I'm slowly getting weaker, experiencing the debilitating effects and exhaustion of ME," he said.

The exhibition, called Lives We Cannot Live, features an image of Mr Jackson lying in a darkened, empty room - something he does to help manage symptoms.

The ME Association said people with the condition are able to manage different workloads and although Mr Jackson takes regular breaks, he finds himself at times spending "hours or days" recovering from the impact of "farm life".

The pictures capture Mr Jackson's life on his farm in Cumbria

"The exhibition showcases the moving images of more than 20 people - some with ME so severe that they are confined to bed, some are able to work part time, and many others struggle to simply keep up with a basic existence," a spokesman said.

Mr Jackson said he hoped being part of the exhibition would help "push ME into the public eye".

He added: "Yvette and I are keen to raise awareness of the condition as there is a lack of understanding of what it's like to live with ME."

Mr Jeffs, who is based in London, said the exhibition was inspired by his own experiences with ME.

"My aim was to capture a sense of what this isolating illness is like for people in the ME and CFS community."