A Parkinson's sufferer who fled from Zimbabwe after raiders attacked and beat him believes his symptoms were caused by the traumatic event.

Douglas Beveridge and his wife Ercolina were threatened with guns and machetes, tied up and beaten over the head by thugs back in 2003.

The ordeal left them ‘terrified’ and they were forced to flee the country and settle in Rishton where their son was living.

Mr Beveridge was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago and has been told by specialists that the head beatings could be the trigger.

The 60-year-old is a founder member of the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Parkinson’s Support Group and was speaking ahead of a national awareness week next month.

The father-of-three ran a large tobacco and wheat farm in his native Zimbabwe before the land was taken from him by military personnel loyal to Robert Mugabe. He worked and lived at a friends farm when between six and nine men broke in.

The men attacked and tied up the Beveridges, shouted racial abuse at them and made off with cash, jewellery and personal items.

Mr Beveridge said: “We were beaten up quite severely and I tried to protect my wife the best I could. They tied us both up and the whole time this was happening I was scared. I managed to break loose and got a message to the police and to my son.

“We knew they were coming back to kill us so we had to run.”

The family, including their other son and daughter, fled through Italy before arriving in the UK and in 2009 Mr Beveridge was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

He said: “I was driving through Altham when my head started getting fuzzy and I pulled over.

“Later I started shaking and it got so bad I went to the doctor and it was diagnosed.

“I definitely think it was from the head beatings because I was hit quite severely.

“The two specialists I have seen also say it could be caused by that. I can’t even drive now and I am on so many tablets.”

Dr Kieran Breen, director of research and innovation at Parkinson’s UK, said ‘little is known’ about what causes the condition, adding: “There’s currently no firm evidence that head injuries cause Parkinson’s, although they may be one of many factors that could contribute to the onset of the condition.”