AMY Winehouse’s mother gave a moving account of her battle with multiple sclerosis as she helped a West Parley support centre celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The Osborne Centre on Church Road has provided a focal point for sufferers of the neurological condition for three decades – and on Wednesday that contribution to the community was acknowledged with a special gathering of invited guests.

Janis Winehouse was accompanied by her husband Richard Collins, who said they have a “special affiliation with the area” and were delighted to add their support to a project that has grown rapidly and helped so many people.

“My first indication of the condition was numbness and tingling in the hands and feet when I was postnatal after giving birth to my son in October 1979,” said Mrs Winehouse, whose daughter Amy was a global singing superstar before her death at 27 in 2011.

“Symptoms settled and I carried on working. Later I had my second child – my daughter Amy – even though I was advised to be cautious about a second pregnancy.”

She then recounted studying hard to qualify as a pharmacist, setting aside medical advice to take it easy.

“Caution has never been part of my vocabulary," she said. "As it has been shown, my daughter inherited this attribute."

Despite displaying symptoms for years, her diagnosis always remained “possible MS”. That was until 2003 when an MRI scan showed lesions on her brain.

She said it was a relief to finally have the diagnosis, adding: “I knew once the beast had been identified I would be able to master it. I will not be defeated by it.”

Mr Collins, who is her full-time carer, said places like the Osborne Centre are vital as they bring those affected by the condition together. “It [MS] doesn’t stop us living – and that’s the important thing – that we live,” he said. “It’s so important to know that you are not alone – and that goes for the carers too."

The Osborne Centre provides an array of facilities and provides one-to-one support as well as facilities for physiotherapy, yoga and recreational activities.

Since it was formed, the Amy Winehouse Foundation has donated £75,000 to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.