Reassurance and solid advice on preventing fires in the home, that was the message from local fire officers who went to a visit to the Frome Macular Society meeting at the Cricket Club.

Officers gave a talk on the importance of smoke alarms, how important it was to have electricals checked and what members can do to prevent accidents.

The popular monthly meet up in Frome is open to all.

Nearly 1.5m people in the UK have macular disease. It affects people of all ages. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common condition, generally affecting people over the age of 55.

AMD is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting more than 600,000 people.

A group of rare inherited conditions called macular dystrophies can affect much younger people. Some of these rare conditions can appear in childhood, although some are not diagnosed until later in life.

For details on joining the local Macular Society group contact treasurer Vera Ford via email :[email protected]