A CHARD woman has praised the work of actor Derek Thompson for helping promote an illness characterised by involuntary and sustained muscle spasms.

Derek, who plays Charlie Fairhead on BBC's Casualty, suffers from Cervical Dystonia and gave his support to the Dystonia Society during their national awareness week earlier this month.

Kate Forsyth, from Chard, suffers from the condition and thinks more needs to be done to help those afflicted.

She said: "I'm delighted that Derek is supporting our awareness-raising efforts.

"Most people are totally unaware of what dystonia means because it sounds like the name of an eastern European country!

"In fact it is a most distressing condition for which there is no cure at present."

For more information call the Dystonia Society on 0845-4586322, or click on the link below.