Lincolnshire potter designs and makes disability-friendly mugs

A Lincolnshire potter has developed specially modified mugs for people with disabilities.

Nicola Swann, who is based in Heckington near Sleaford, was asked to design a bespoke mug for a friend's husband who struggled to hold one.

His only option had previously been a plastic baby cup, which he said felt degrading.

Ms Swann designed and made a double-handled mug for him to use.

Since a social media video about her modified mugs went viral over the summer, she says she receives up to 100 messages a day and that she is struggling to reply to them all.

"People are saying it's a game changer," she told BBC Look North.

"People who wouldn't drink in a social setting because they were embarrassed at having to drink out of a plastic cup - now they can use a mug like everyone else in the room and they don't feel like they're having to use a medical aid."

Her Instagram channel Made With Mud has amassed almost 60,000 followers to date.

Ms Swann says it is where her ideas come from.

"It did feel a little bit ableist of me to say 'this is what I think you need', but this (range) all comes from feedback," she said.

She is currently working on a design for people with arthritis which involves angling a new handle and making it thicker.

Other creations include a mug for people in wheelchairs with headrests who are unable to tip their heads back to finish all of the drink.

Angharad Brawn, an artist from South Wales, bought one.

In a video post, she said: "It has a cut out where your nose goes so I can put it right back so I can drink all of my cup of coffee."

Ms Swann, who learnt to use a potter's wheel eight years ago, said she fell "in love with it immediately".

However, she said due to popularity of her mugs she was now using a company in the East Midlands to make the moulds to her design for her to glaze and send out.

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