A Crystal Palace supporter has had a stairlift installed in his home, in the colours of his favourite team.

Devoted fan Cliff Gardner, 49, of Eastbourne, can no longer attend matches in person, so his wife came up with the novel idea of having his new stairlift upholstered in the colours of Crystal Palace.

Mr Gardner was injured aged 29 in a work accident after he fell eight foot onto a railway track. Since then he has developed severe osteoarthritis in his spine, shoulder, ankles, hip and neck, meaning he spends the majority of his time indoors.

With his movement around the house increasingly restricted, Cliff had a stairlift installed in January 2011 to ease his movement and help him re-gain some of his lost independence.

Mr Gardner said: “I think the stairlift is wonderful – it makes be smile every time I use it. The upholstery has brought personality to the stairlift and made it a really positive feature in my house that sits nicely with my football memorabilia.