Surgery inspires woman's designs on cups

Mandy Charlton found out about the cups while recovering from surgery

A woman who could not drink from a mug while recovering from surgery to remove two tumours has come up with her own picture designs on adult "sippy cups".

Mandy Charlton, from Newcastle, said as someone who suffered from chronic conditions drinking a hot beverage out of a cup was often "a challenge".

The 49-year-old said the double-handle and spout gave users independence.

She has now come up with her own designs for blank cups, which she is selling.

Ms Charlton, a photographer who has fibromyalgia and diabetes, had been recovering in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary after having had surgery to remove two tumours and her parathyroid glands.

She said she had to turn down a cup of coffee because she was unable to drink from a mug.

"As someone who suffers from chronic conditions myself, I'm well aware of the problems that people have to deal with," said Ms Charlton.

"And I thought there must be something that people could use that would not only solve the problem but would also give the users a certain amount of independence."

William who has cerebral palsy managed to drink independently using the cup

Sarah Voysey, from Hexham, who got a cup for her 15-year-old son William, who has sensory neuropathy and cerebral palsy, said it had been "life changing for him".

"It's too hard now for him to hold a cup as he's losing feeling in his hands and for the first time in years he was able to hold a cup and drink for himself," she said.