A CHARITY celebrated 30 years of work last week with a TV star.

The Reading and West Berkshire branch of Motor Neurone Disease Association hosted Nicholas Owen at their bash at Engfield House on April 29.

The event was attended by volunteers and suffers of the condition to mark their years of service of supporting families and sufferers of the illness across Berkshire.

Mr Owen's said he was bowled over by those in attendance including Alex Jenkins, Newbury, who is loosing his voice to the disease.

The veteran journalist also met Marjorie Moore, Tilehurst, who told him of how she and her family had been selling cakes to mark her 70th birthday in aid of the charity.

The BBC presenter spoke about the loss of his close friend to MND and said he was heartened to hear that genetics research into the condition was gathering pace.

Mary Dodds, Tilehurst, helped set up the branch in 1987 whilst her husband, Derek Prior, was battling the condition, helped organise the evenings event.

She said: “We decided to mark this special anniversary by sharing our memories and achievements and to look positively to the future together.

“To continue our successful work we need more volunteers for the next leg of the journey. We have an AGM coming up at 7.30pm on May 17th at The Holiday Inn, Padworth, near Reading. Do come and join us.

"My dearest wish is that one day they will find a cure for this dreadful disease."

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the brain and the spinal cord which can leave sufferers unable to move, talk and eventually breathe.