CREWE’S MP has become a ‘friend’ of the hundreds of thousands of dementia sufferers around the UK.

Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has qualified as a 'Dementia Friend' at a course hosted in his Crewe office for his local team.

More than 1 in 3 people with dementia live within the community and by 2015 there will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, according to The Alzheimer's Society

Mr Timpson said: “My team and I took part in took part in Dementia Friends awareness session to increase our understanding of dementia, so that we can better support constituents living with the disease.

"I am now supporting Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England’s call for young people, parents and teachers to become a Dementia Friends too, to help us to achieve the first Dementia Friendly generation.

The 'Dementia Friends' initiative is led by The Alzheimer's Society and aims to ensure that people living with dementia feel included in their community.

Mr Timpson heard from Lucie Newsam from The Alzheimer's Society who explained more about the illness and what can be done to allow dementia sufferers to carry on with their daily lives.

Mr Timpson added: "Please get involved by having a Dementia Friends session in your school. The sessions are fun, interactive and informative for all age groups.”

For more information, visit dementiafriends.org.uk