A jazz-trained singer from Bexley has recorded and released a single in support of people with cystic fibrosis in the UK.

Taylor Notcutt, who studied at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, has released 'Breathe With Me' as part of a campaign to bring a drug to treat the disease to the UK.

The drug, called Orkambi, is not a cure for cystic fibrosis but slows decline in lung function. It is estimated that nearly half of all people in the UK suffering from the illness could benefit from the drug.

However, although it was cleared for use in Europe in 2015, Orkambi has not been picked up by the UK due to its high cost.

A petition was set up in January to bring the drug into use in the NHS, which gained more than 100,000 signatures in just over 10 days. The campaign continues today, with a protest scheduled for June 22 to put pressure NHS England.

Miss Notcutt decided to get involved in the campaign after hearing about a little girl who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Due to the girl's desperate need for the drug, her family decided to relocate to America.

She said: “If you listen to the lyrics of ‘Breathe With Me’ they are asking people, the general public, to think about how difficult life would be if you had to struggle to do the one thing most of us take for granted every day – breathing.

“Try breathing through a narrow drinking straw for just a minute, while pinching your nose – that will give you some idea of how bad this disease can get.

"There are many complications too – it’s not just the lungs that are affected. If the public get some idea of having to live like that every day, then I am sure that they will want to help too.”

The music video for the track features photos of children who suffer from the illness. The photos were used to lobby MPs to debate the availability of Orkambi in the UK.

Miss Notcutt hopes the single will help put the campaign in the spotlight. He has urged people to share the online video and sign the petition to bring Orkambi into use in the UK.