TODAY is the start of a new life for disabled man David Marshall who has put his troubles behind him and is determined to help others.As The Evening Star revealed at Christmas, Mr Marshall, 59, who has had both of his legs amputated, was completely alone, desperately lonely and unable to go out and meet people.

TODAY is the start of a new life for disabled man David Marshall who has put his troubles behind him and is determined to help others.

As The Evening Star revealed at Christmas, Mr Marshall, 59, who has had both of his legs amputated, was completely alone, desperately lonely and unable to go out and meet people.

But now, he says his life has been turned around thanks to an article in the Star, which prompted Suffolk County Council to provide a dedicated social service worker and led to him being moved from a flat in Kesgrave to sheltered housing in Felixstowe.

On the day he moved into his new place, he started working on a new website (www.ukdisabled.co.uk) to provide help and support for those in a similar situation.

Mr Marshall, of Gosford Way, said: “There are a lot of disabled people out there who are sitting on their own. I got into a situation where I got myself really down and thought there must be others out there who feel the same way. I wanted to give something back.

“I am a different man now thanks to the article.”

Mr Marshall, originally a coach driver from Nottingham, suffered serious clots from a 40-a-day smoking habit, causing him to lose his legs. He plunged into depression and began to suffer panic attacks whenever he left the house, which made his isolation even worse.

The Star revealed his plight just before Christmas and since then, life changed dramatically. The move and additional support and funding from Suffolk County Council gave him the confidence to set up a basic homepage with a message asking for help to develop the site.

Stuart Perrott, an ex-serviceman and website designer from Wiltshire, who suffered bouts of loneliness himself after leaving the military police with injuries in 1994, saw Mr Marshall's plea and decided to help him.

Mr Perrott, 42, said: “I designed the website and am now teaching David how to do it to give him more confidence. I am really excited for David and everything we have done.”

The pair are also planning to launch another website, www.dates4disabled.org, on Friday to give disabled people the opportunity to chat in forums.

Mr Marshall is now appealing for any financial support from Suffolk businesses to help fund the running of the websites.

If you want to help e-mail him at admin@ukdisabled.co.uk

Have you changed your life around? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk