A counselling service for the parents and carers of people with eating disorders is starting in Ealing this month ,, the first of its kind in London.

The courses are the brainchild of Ealing Abbey Counselling Service, which started in 1994 after the health authority closed the walk-in clinics in its mental health resource centres.

Vesna Mandic-Bozic, of the counselling service, discovered the need for the support service when she was approached by desperate parents.

'Research has shown that eating disorders put more pressure on parents and carers than any other medical illnesses,' she said.

Psychotherapist Kate McGuire, the service director, added: 'It's a popular myth that eating disorders are caused by the parents and they feel shame and guilt at what's happening.'

She added that since GPs and nurses are not trained to deal with sufferers of such complex illnesses, more focus is needed on the people who are around the sufferers 24 hours a day.

The classes will allow parents to share their experiences as well as provide information about what is happening to their children and advice on how they can help them.

And Ms Mandic-Bozic is hoping it will help parents and carers maintain their support of their children after their recovery and keep the channels of communication open.

The six-week course, which costs £60, will be held at the counselling service's headquarters at Ealing Abbey in Marchwood Crescent.

Ms Mandic-Bozic said the course will be shaped to the needs of the parents and two-hour introductory sessions will enable them to get an idea of what it will be like.

The proposed start dates are September 18 for the Monday course and September 28 for the Thursday one. Introductory sessions are scheduled for Monday and Thursday.

For further details contact the Counselling Service on 0208 862 2164.