A MULTIPLE Sclerosis sufferer who gives his time to rescue people's old photographs has been granted lifetime membership of the Millennium Awards Fellowship.

Over the past year Ron Payne, aged 59, has digitally restored hundreds of cherished pictures, a project he started with a £2,500 grant from the Millennium Awards scheme.

The former prison guard from Hampton is now looking for funding to buy new equipment so he can continue preserving other people's precious memories.

He said the project started when an elderly woman asked to borrow his computer skills and time. "A precious photograph she treasured was deteriorating and I realised that I could restore it digitally," he explained.

"After doing this the word got round and people started to approach me for help. I realised that there were a lot of people out there in the same position."

Recognising the demand for his abilities, Mr Payne applied for - and was granted - a Millennium Award to pay for new computer equipment and materials, such as paper and ink.

Since this time he has worked at his Cherished Photos project and built up a portfolio of restored pictures, which he believes will also prove valuable to future generations.

"A lot of things in the archive could be useful for local history groups, one, for example, includes a stagecoach in the background, it is so old."

He said he often saw just how important the old photos were to their owners. "Some people cannot bear to let go of them for a moment and have to watch them for every step of the way. Sometimes they are worried when I put them into the scanner in case they get burned."

He added that the project had also been just the sort of useful occupation he had been looking for. "I have an aptitude for this sort of work and I can do it from my wheelchair. It is a chance for me to put something back into society."

By coincidence, Mr Payne's niece, Sarah Burdett, who he keeps in touch with him by e-mail, is on the other side of the world working in a similar line to her uncle. "She works for the British Museum and she's currently in Japan restoring a priceless silk screen," he said.

"I'm sure it's just coincidence - or maybe it is a family trait."

Anyone who can help Mr Payne secure the funding he needs to continue his project, can call him on 01386 446821 or contact him via e-mail at ronpayne1@btopenworld.com.