ROSSENDALE MP Jake Berry has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a new £15 million research fund for dementia.

The MP, who recently trained to be a Dementia Friend through a programme coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Society, has hailed the funding as the next step to tackling the illness.

Earlier this year, Mr Berry supported Dementia Friendly Rossendale, a community and volunteer driven initiative set up to raise awareness and address the issues surrounding living with and caring for those with dementia.

Commenting on the new fund, Mr Berry said: “As many as 820,000 people in the UK live with dementia, including some 15,000 people in Lancashire, and numbers are set to increase as populations live even longer.

“This is a battle which will only grow in significance in the future and we cannot afford to be complacent now – that’s why I’m pleased the government has committed at least £15 million to ensure we are doing all we can to fight this devastating illness.”