A MINEHEAD man is travelling to Bulgaria in the hope that a pioneering new multiple sclerosis treatment could transform his life by easing the symptoms that have plagued him for years.

Paul Booker, 40, is due to fly to Bulgaria on Sunday for ground-breaking "liberation treatment".

Although he has had to take out a bank loan to cover the £5,000 medical bill, he is adamant it will be worth every penny.

"You can get it done in Scotland for between £8,000 and £10,000 but there's a huge waiting list and I was offered a place in Bulgaria within two weeks of contacting them," Paul said.

The treatment - which has divided opinion in the medical world - was pioneered by Italian doctor Paulo Zamboni, who believes MS is caused by blockages in veins which connect to the brain, rather than a problem with the immune system.

He uses a straightforward angioplasty procedure to re-open the veins, increasing blood flow and oxygen supplies to the brain.

Paul will first have to undergo a scan to check the condition of his veins before getting the go-ahead to have keyhole surgery on Tuesday.

A tube will be inserted into his abdomen and a balloon inserted and inflated inside the vein - all under local anaesthetic.

He could be back in the UK by Thursday and has high hopes for the procedure.

"Balance is usually the first thing to be restored, although some people see results almost instantaneously and say they can feel the sensation returning to their feet and hands.

"I only found out about the treatment four or five months ago and I want to make sure as many people know about it as possible," Paul said.

He was diagnosed with MS in 1999 and is particularly troubled by poor balance, which leaves him unable to walk long distances or carry out many simple day-to-day tasks unaided.

His limited mobility also means he is unable to exercise and that prevents him building up his strength to counter the effects of the disease.

Although there is no guarantee of success, Paul said he was willing to take a chance as regaining his balance would be a major boost for both his mental and physical wellbeing.

MS causes a range of problems, including fatigue, numbness, loss of co-ordination and vision and speech impairments.

Photo: Steve Guscott