A father-of-four is making a desperate fundraising appeal for a life-saving operation.

Lee Baker, who has lived in Margate for 12 years, suffers from sarcoidosis, a disease causing growths on his internal organs.

He also has gastroparesis, which is a delay in gastric emptying that stops the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.

Mr Baker is hoping to raise £16,000 for a stomach pacemaker operation which would allow his stomach muscles to work and allow him to eat food, as he relies on special formulated shakes at the moment.

He has four children - Sydney, 12, Kendylle, 11, Grace, 10 and Kian, nine.

Mr Baker said: "The pacemaker is the only thing that will keep me alive, it's my only option for a normal life.

"I was forced to give up working five years ago due to the illness, my muscle and tissue have wasted away and I often struggle to do even basic things.

"It feels strange for me to be out of work, I've worked since the age of 13.

"It would be great to have raised the money by March or April and we're trying to get as many people on board as possible."

Helen Bristow, who set up the fundraising page, says the NHS can apply for funding but it is not guaranteed.

She said: “For £16,000 Lee could have the operation privately and soon.

"Lee is an old school friend, we recently lost another school friend from our year.

"When Lee posted about his illness on Facebook we felt we had to do something."

Wellwishers have so far donated more than £1,000 to the cause.

To donate, click here