Maryport Town Council is taking action to make the town more welcoming for people living with dementia.

Councillor Linda Radcliffe trained to become a dementia champion with The Alzheimer's Society in Workington last month and will now pass on her knowledge to her fellow councillors.

They will then offer free sessions to businesses in the town in a bid to make it more dementia-friendly.

Dementia Friends was launched in 2013 and aims to help raise awareness about people living with dementia.

The initiative, which was set up by The Alzheimer's Society, encourages people to be trained as dementia friends or champions.

Coun Radcliffe said: "It doesn't make you an expert but it makes you better able to cope with any situation you come across which affects someone who has dementia.

"Because I had heard of dementia-friendly towns and shopping centres, I thought Maryport could very easily become one.

"We need to be able to welcome everybody on the same footing.

"To become a dementia friend only takes an hour and to become a champion takes a day.

"They can then put a butterfly symbol in their window, which shows that it's a dementia-friendly business.

"It's in everybody's interest because none of us know if a family member or even ourselves are going to develop this disease.

"The reaction I've had so far has been very positive."

Coun Radcliffe said colours, seating and distractions can all help people living with dementia.

She has already trained some people from St Mary's Church in the town.