Blue castle

4:05pm Sunday 9th November 2008

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AN historic North-East castle will be lit up in blue this week to mark World Diabetes Day.

Durham Castle, part of Durham City’s World Heritage Site that includes its famous cathedral, will have coloured lights played on its walls on Friday (November 14) from 7 to 11pm.

World Diabetes Day aims to make people aware of the seriousness of the condition, which affects more than 250 million people across the world and can kill .

Blue is the official colour of the day’s logo and of the UNite for Diabetes campaign which was instrumental in the United Nations' resolution recognising diabetes as a major threat to health across the world.

Organiser Ian Rudd, of the Diabetes UK Durham Group, said: "We are supporting World Diabetes Day because we feel we need to increase awareness of the condition and the problems it brings to sufferers if not diagnosed early, and treated effectively. "Every act of celebration, from the largest public event to an individual act, will help bring diabetes to light. "I am delighted that the Deputy Mayor of Durham and his wife, Ron and Irene Dickie, have agreed to attend the official switch on of the blue lights, and grateful to the staff and residents at Durham Castle, especially Maurice Tucker and Rob Thompson, in allowing this take place."

World Diabetes Day is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). To find out more visit www.worlddiabetesday.org.