def parser_help_text(help_text):
    """Takes the help text supplied as a doc string and extraxts the
    description and any param arguments."""
    if help_text is None:
        return None, {}

    main_text = ''
    params_help = {}

    for line in help_text.splitlines():
        line = line.strip()
        match = re.search(r':\s*param\s*(?P<param>\w+)\s*:(?P<help>.*)$', line)
        if match:
            params_help[match.group('param')] = match.group('help').strip()
        else:
            main_text += line + ' '

    main_text = main_text.strip()
    return main_text, params_help
Takes the help text supplied as a doc string and extraxts the
    description and any param arguments.