Windows across West Cumbria were decorated with posters and paintings last weekend to mark World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April.

Parkinson's UK West Cumbria saw the day as an opportunity to reach more people in the community who are living with the disease and encourage them to seek support.

Posters were printed off and tied to trees and bushes in Cockermouth, and windows across Allerdale and Copeland were decorated to create awareness.

Parkinson's UK West Cumbria Secretary, Beryl Pryde, said it has been especially important for them to raise awareness this year

"The number of people with Parkinson’s, unfortunately, is rising very fast," said Beryl.

"When you’re first diagnosed it’s very traumatic and people need to know that there are others out there who can help them.

"Half of the people on our books that we help don’t have any computers or use email, so we’re trying really hard to keep in contact with them because they’re not having the kind of contact that they would have had before.

"They would come to our monthly get togethers or groups activities that we would have had during the week and they’ve missed out."

According to Parkinson's UK, out of the 2000 people they surveyed across the UK with Parkinson's disease in 2020, 34 per cent said reduced access to exercise had a big impact on their lives and 75 per cent of respondents said socialising with family and friends had become more difficult.

Chairman of Parkinson's UK West Cumbria, John Kane, said: "Parkinson's has really been on the increase over the past few years, especially in Cumbria.

"It's not an elderly person's condition.

"I was 50 when I was diagnosed and I knew there was something wrong with me, but I didn't know what.

"I was a very good darts player and I was captain of Cumbria at one point, but it Parkinson's finished my darts career right away."

John said the West Cumbria branch are looking forward to getting groups together again in the when it is safe to do so, and urged people to reach out for support.