SUPPORTERS of a disabled Bradford man who died after collapsing at a mental health hospital he had been sent to miles away from his family are planning a protest outside Parliament in June.

Thomas Rawnsley, 20, who had Down's Syndrome, died after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the specialist unit in Sheffield where he had been moved to last summer against his family's wishes.

They believe he would still be alive if he had been able to live in a supported flat in his home city and nearer to them.

Now supporters of the IAm Thomas campaign will be taking their peaceful protest to London on June 4, marking four months since he died.

One of the organisers Helen Ashby, who is friends with Thomas's mum Paula, said about 60 people so far were expected and they would be inviting MPs to join them.

Last June, a plan to enable Thomas to live in Bradford, instead of sending him from Lynfield Mount Hospital to a care unit in Peterborough, fell through and his family was told a special unit in Sheffield was the only option despite an independent panel recommending a care plan should be developed closer to home instead.

Inquiries into the circumstances leading up to his death are now being carried out at Bradford Council, which is in contact with the family advocate and other agencies, and by Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group.

An inquest is also due to be held in Sheffield but Thomas's family have been told he suffered a sharp drop in his oxygen levels causing the cardiac arrest and swelling of his brain. He died two days after being admitted to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.

Mrs Rawnsley's previous concerns about her son's treatment included claims of over-medication of anti-psychotic drugs and him being left naked in the corridors at Lynfield Mount psychiatric hospital in Bradford.

Thomas had been ill-treated two years ago while he was resident at Norcott House, Liversedge, by a care worker who threatened to break his fingers. A judge at Leeds Crown Court later sentenced the care worker to a suspended jail sentence and 200 hours unpaid community service.

The IAm Thomas campaign also wants people to remember Thomas on June 7 when he would have been 21.

Mrs Ashby said: "We are asking people to hold their own birthday party for Thomas and to post pictures of the cake with either Thomas or 21 written on or in candles and post the pics to the Facebook page IAm Thomas."