GLOUCESTERSHIRE is to get its first fibromyalgia support group.

Alice Reeve and Diane Hayes, who both suffer from the painful condition, are planning on helping others struggling with the illness.

They say there is not enough support in the country for people with fibromyalgia, which causes muscular pain and fatigue.

Alice, who was diagnosed with the condition 10 years ago, said: "There are a lot of isolated people out there suffering in silence."

The 34-year-old, from Evesham Road, Cheltenham, said she would have benefited from talking to others in the same boat when she was first diagnosed.

She said: "I know quite a lot about the illness now but somebody who is newly diagnosed probably would not understand it at all."

Alice has received support from all over the world after an article in the Echo explained the challenges she has faced since being diagnosed.

Fellow sufferers from Canada and North America have left messages detailing their experiences on the Echo's website thisisglou- cestershire.co.uk.

Sufferer Diane Hayes, from William Gough Close, got in touch with Alice after seeing the article.

The 35-year-old was diagnosed four years ago but says she has had the condition for 14 years.

The mum-of-two believes this will be the first fibromyalgia support group in the county.

She said: "The nearest support group is in Wiltshire. A support group would have helped me when I was diagnosed as I didn't know anything about it."

Diane thinks a group would also benefit the families of sufferers.

She said: "It would be good for the partners to talk to each other. There are support groups for partners of people with ME and MS, but nothing for fibromyalgia."

Diane says the condition leaves her in acute pain in her ankles, hips and knees.

"I can't do the jobs I used to do, which was bar and shop work, as I can't stand on my feet all day," she said.

"I can't take the children to the park or go for a bike ride as long as they can."

Awareness of fibromyalgia and treatments for the condition were debated in the House of Commons earlier this month.

Alice attended the debate and said it was encouraging that MPs were supportive of sufferers.

According to the charity Fibroaction there are around two million sufferers in the UK.

If anyone would like to find out more about joining the group they can e-mail Alice on ally_reeve@yahoo.co.uk or Diane on hayes.diane@yahoo.co.uk or 07528 782 548.