Art is being used to help people in Wells who have dementia.

Tutor Sarah Dyson has started running art classes at Dorrington House Care Home.

Eighty per cent of the home's 38 residents have dementia.

Miss Dyson, from Waterden, whose mother Susan Dyson is a resident at the home, said: 'I started these classes to give the people here something creative to do and some of the work they are producing is very good.

'It has helped people to unlock the hidden talents they never knew they had.'

It is estimated, nationally, one in three people over 65 will develop dementia and in Norfolk, where there are more 63-year-olds in the county than any other age, it is a growing concern.

The charity Arts 4 Dementia say that accessing the creative part of the brain can override the stresses of memory loss, elevate mood, re-energise and restore a person's sense of personal identity.

It believes that people with dementia have the right to enjoy life to the full and engagement with arts brings benefits both for those with dementia and to their loved ones through sharing such experiences.

Miss Dyson, who gave her fourth class at the home on Monday, said: 'Through art they can use the visual part of the mind to revisit certain memories from their past without having to rationalise that memory.'

Miss Dyson, who runs the classes every three to four weeks, plans to eventually display the residents' work in an exhibition.

She would like to hear from anyone interested in art who would like to be involved in the project and can be contacted on 07587 147160.