Airedale’s community health team is raising awareness of the support available for people with multiple sclerosis.

Jane Pearce and Carolyn Zeyrek – specialist nurses at Airedale Hospital – are distributing information and advice on-site as part of MS Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday.

“It is a very complex long-term condition – many of the symptoms aren’t visible and it is often difficult to diagnose as patients come to us with different neurological symptoms,” said Jane.

“Patients could have weakness, sensory symptoms – for example, tingling or pins and needles – visual impairment or cognitive problems.

“During this campaign our aim is to raise awareness of the full range of support available for MS patients and their families to help them continue to work, lead their life as they choose to and keep positive. We do our best to help them realise that there is life after a diagnosis.”

Around 100,000 people in the UK have MS, and most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

In Airedale there are currently about 232 MS patients, but believed to be many more unknown to the service.

People can call (01535) 338755 or 338751, or visit mssociety.org.uk/ near-me/branches/skipton-and-craven-branch, for further information and support.