A WOMAN has praised the owners of a caravan park for helping her recover from pneumonia.

Christine Wyvell, 66, lives in Thorney Bay Park, Canvey, which is owned by Jack King, 86, and his family.

She originally lived in a caravan with single glazing, but found this too draughty after being diagnosed with pneumonia in February last year.

Jack King heard about her illness and moved her to a plusher caravan with double glazing for virtually no extra cost.

Since then the Kings and their staff have regularly checked on Miss Wyvell’s fluctuating state of health.

They sent her a card and gave ger a basket of plants for Christmas.

She said: “Jack King is a lovely man. He always stops and waves whenever he passes and asks if I’m all right.

“You can’t get doctors to visit you on the park, but if I’m unwell and make a call to reception, a security guard always comes over and checks I’m OK within five minutes.”

She added Mr King’s granddaughter, Holly, personally brought a huge container full of water through the snow to her caravan, after her pipes froze in December.

The Kings have been criticised in recent years for expanding the number of caravans at Thorney Bay and allowing people to live there full-time, when it was only supposed to be a part-time holiday park.

Miss Wyvell said: “The King family get a lot of bad press and so does the park, but I wanted to say I love it here. You only get a maximum six month tenancy to stay at Thorney Bay Park, but I would like to stay on Canvey for the rest of my life. I have no family and it is like they’ve adopted me.

“For once in my life I have people who actually care about me.”