PEOPLE who live with a condition which causes widespread pain all over the body have set up a group to help fellow sufferers in Highbridge.

Fibro and ME launched last week and is already proving popular with residents with many visitors now declaring they will become members of the group.

Paul Hopkins, who helped set up the group, said he was inspired to get in involved after a number of other clubs which offered similar support disbanded.

“After being a member of two other groups in the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge area that stopped running, I realised that there was no longer a group in the area that offered support to sufferers of fibromyalgia,” he said.

“As a sufferer of fibromyalgia, I know how difficult it can be to carry out day to day tasks and I think sufferers have their own ways to cope with the condition,” Paul said.

Fibromyalgia is a long term condition that causes pain all over the body.

As well as widespread pain, sufferers can also suffer from fatigue, muscle stiffness and difficulty sleeping.

Paul said he hopes the new group will offer a support system to residents living with pain related illnesses.

He said: “The group is a way for sufferers of fibromyalgia, ME, and chronic fatigue syndrome and other pain related illnesses to come together and offer support to each other in a positive, non-judgemental way.

“It is difficult to live with a long term illness that can cause you pain, I know as I do so on a daily basis.

“A lot of people find it hard to talk about their condition but at our group we don’t want people to feel pressured.

“We want to get everyone together for a coffee and a chat about anything and everything because sometimes just having someone to talk to who knows what you’re going through is a great comfort,” Paul said.

The group will hold meetings at the Gospel Tabernacle Evangelical Church every Wednesday from 11.45am to 3pm. Call 07598503438 for information.