EXTRA support is being offered to people who live with diabetes - or are pre-diabetic - in the Blackburn with Darwen area.

Help with forms of the condition has come via the Blackburn with Darwen Peer Support Group for nearly six months now.

And now the community collective is seeking to appeal to more would-be members with evening support meetings.

Group founder Paul Walker, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2011, said: “I started the group after a lady who supported me in getting back into work was diagnosed with pre-diabetes started asking me questions about diet etc.

“I decided that we needed a support group who could help me with diabetes support each other and newly-diagnosed diabetics.

“I started the group as a drop-in, running every fortnight, last November.”

What began with afternoon drop-in sessions is now being extended to an evening group, which could prove more convenient to those who work and swell their ranks.

The first such gathering will take place at Blackburn Central Library next Tuesday, from 7pm to 9pm, and run on the first Tuesday of each month thereafter.

Similar afternoon sessions already take place on the first Tuesday of the month at the same venue, at the earlier time of 1pm to 3pm.

Further meetings are also hosted in the Community Wellbeing Hub in the Darwen End at Ewood Park on the second Wednesday of each month, from 3pm to 7pm, with the next sessions taking place on June 12.

The national charity Diabetes UK has been looking to establish a network of peer support groups across the country to “offer the opportunity to meet others in your local area who are living with diabetes, to share experiences and practical tips to live well with diabetes”.

For more information about the Blackburn with Darwen group, its meetings and its aims e-mail bwddiabetesgroup@outlook.com