DISABLED Southampton comedian, songwriter and storyteller Shaun Shears is taking his show to the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe.

Shaun suffers from cerebral palsy and arthritis and is the only independently funded disabled act performing there.

Opening tomorrow, his show The New Age Labrador revolves around the thought-provoking stories behind his songs and his inspirational life as a wheelchair-bound artist.

The title for the show came from a misunderstanding between Shaun and one of his team of helpers who thought he said “Labrador” instead of “troubadour”.

Traditionally every performer at the Fringe will publicise their show in the very busy streets of Edinburgh.

But as wheelchairbound Shaun is unable to enter The Royal Mile his team of carers will be using balloons as a novel way of promotion.

Shaun, 30, from Bitterne, said: “The Edinburgh Mile is like World War Three.

“For insurance purposes I’m not allowed on to the Mile in my wheelchair because you physically can’t move for people. At my level they can’t see me, so if we give passers-by a balloon they can go off and advertise my show for three or four hours.”

This has been sponsored by Southampton’s Signature Balloons, one of many Hampshire businesses that have helped get Shaun to Edinburgh. An auction of donations, held at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, raised £600.

Shaun hopes this show will give him national credibility.