Many of you will recognise Alton Walker, pictured above in a photograph taken last year, who has lived in the north of Mallorca for nine years.

Alton was working for the Fairline boat company in Puerto Pollensa when a stroke in early March this year saw him rushed to Son Dureta hospital where he was in a coma for several weeks. Although now out of intensive care, Alton remains paralysed down one side of his body and will need long-term rehabilitation and therapy to help him learn to speak and walk again. His doctors feel that this sort of treatment would be better done back in the UK and so an air ambulance is needed to get Alton home.

His family are doing all they can, relatives have been flying out to visit Alton during the last two months and his brother Danny has been able to stay with him the whole time. But, obviously, this unexpected event has put a strain on their financial resources and they need help to raise the 18,000€ needed for the air ambulance.

Collecting boxes are sited in three places in Puerto Pollensa; the Club Nautico, Sovereign Spas showroom (opposite the petrol station) and in Talk of the North's office just off the square. Should more than the required sum be raised, it has been pledged that this will be put into a fund to help other residents who may need repatriation for medical care.

Alton was always a cheerful and popular person, if you can spare some money please help him learn to smile again.