A volunteer is calling for more people and businesses in a large Norwich suburb to get behind dementia awareness training.

Businessman and Costessey town councillor David Gunby, 62, helped set up the monthly Costessey Dementia Café just over a year ago.

The town also has a monthly Costessey Pabulum Café for dementia sufferers and carers.

My Gunby, from Grove Avenue, wants more businesses and residents in the area to get involved with specific training to make life easier for dementia sufferers and their relatives.

He said: 'We [the Costessey Dementia Café] are trying to recruit people to help us drive this idea of becoming a dementia-friendly area.

'It would be nice to get all the businesses dementia aware, as well as other community groups, so we can make sure everyone can understand the needs of dementia sufferers and their carers.

'Costessey is a big area and we [the Costessey Dementia Café] would like it to be a dementia-friendly town.

'The problem is getting the word out to as many people as possible.'

Mr Gunby added: 'Dementia is very debilitating for carers and sufferers. A lot of people are not aware of the symptoms and incorrectly label people who have the condition without understanding it. The more people understand it, the better for everyone.'

The town councillor's late mother-in-law and mother both had Alzheimer's disease.

Organisations to get involved in dementia awareness training so far include a couple of hairdressers, funeral directors and the Co-op.

Mr Gunby said resources were available to do the training but there was a lack of manpower.

He said the town council was keen to set up a steering committee to bring together all community groups to discuss dementia awareness training as well as other issues.

The Costessey Dementia Café is supported by the Alzheimer's Society and takes place on the first Thursday of every month from 10.30am-12.30pm at the Costessey Centre on Longwater Lane.

The Costessey Pabulum Café, supported by Age UK Norfolk, takes place once a month on a Friday at the Costessey Centre.

Call 01603 742958 to get involved in dementia awareness training.