As part of the bid for Malpas to become the first dementia-friendly village in the borough, members of the community have undertaken training to be Dementia Friends Champions to help improve the lives of sufferers.

The chairman of Malpas Parish Council , a GP and a councillor were among those who took part in the day-long session held at Carden Park Hotel .

The training is part of Alzheimer's Society’s Dementia Friends programme, an initiative launched in February to help members of the public understand what it might be like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.

The volunteers will now be able to deliver Dementia Friends sessions across Cheshire West and Chester.

Owner of Carden Park Hotel Steve Morgan, who is also chairman of Redrow plc and Wolverhampton Wanderers, is supportive of dementia-friendly work across Cheshire West and Chester.

He said: “I applaud Alzheimer's Society for their leadership. Dementia affects so many people and it is a massive challenge for all communities.

“Living so close to Malpas, I am delighted to hear about their work to become a Dementia Friendly community and I am really pleased that Carden Park has been able to offer them some support.”

Chairman of Malpas Parish Council John Webb, who was on the Dementia Friends champion training session, added: “Malpas Parish Council recognises the importance of becoming a Dementia Friendly Community and welcomes the strong support from local businesses and the whole community.

“The wonderful support from Bishop Heber High School, where more than 100 sixth formers have become Dementia Friends, is particularly appreciated.”

Alzheimer's Society is aiming to have 1,000,000 Dementia Friends by 2015, to help make England more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of people currently living with the condition - including the 4,721 estimated sufferers in Cheshire West and Cheshire.

To sign up for a Dementia Friends Champions training session, visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk .

For more information on support provided locally by Alzheimer's Society, log on to www.alzheimers.org.uk/localinformation .