More than 100 people attended an event last week to explore the early signs of dementia and support available for people with the disease.

Representatives from Richmond Council, Alzheimer’s Society Richmond and former EastEnders actor John Altman spoke at York House on September 19.

Councillor David Marlow, cabinet member for adult services, said: “The afternoon was a great success; it was nice to see so many residents and professionals eager to find out more information on dementia as well as sharing their experiences with each other.

“The event addressed the common concerns worries and stigma associated with dementia.

“It is important to increase residents’ awareness of dementia, especially knowing the early symptoms, as these are often missed.

“We received some fantastic feedback about the event from residents and we hope that the information taken from this event will be passed on to friends and family to enable people to take action on dementia.”