DARLINGTON MP Jenny Chapman is urging her constituents to join her in backing a campaign turn the town into a dementia-friendly community.

She wants residents and businesses across Darlington to join forces and make the town a place where people with dementia can live life to the full.

Mrs Chapman will attend a meeting of the new Darlington Dementia Action Alliance at the Department for Education offices, in Bishopsgate House, Feethams, on Friday (October 9), from 11am to noon.

She said: "There are currently 1,452 people living with dementia in Darlington and it is anticipated that over the next ten years this figure will rise to almost 2,000.

"Most of us know someone affected by dementia but only by working together in Darlington can we help people to live well with the condition and demonstrate that our town welcomes people with dementia as valued members of our community."

More than a million people across the country are now Dementia Friends and are taking action to make it easier for people with dementia to participate in their communities and keep doing the things they enjoy.

Mrs Chapman added: "Compared to the UK average, Darlington has done a great job diagnosing dementia and has strong networks committed to tackling the disease."

Anyone interested in becoming a Dementia Friend can email jane.welch@alzheimers.org.uk or call 0191-298-2939.