PARKINSON'S sufferer Susan Harbot has taken to the airwaves in the hope of making people more aware of the disease.

Widower Mrs Harbot was diagnosed with hereditary Parkinson's disease nine years ago and is the fifth generation in her family to have the disease.

The mum-of-four, from Horwich, is fed up with members of the public assuming she is drunk because of her shakes.

The 65-year-old has been stepped over in the street after a fall, been questioned as to why she is sat on the disabled access seats on the bus and has even been approached by a community police officer who asked if she was drunk.

Speaking before she went on air at Bolton FM Mrs Harbot said: "All I want people to do is ask me, ask me am I okay rather than just presuming I am drunk and I will tell them that I have Parkinson's.

"I've found it is the older generation who are the least understanding, kids are actually more accepting.

"I just want people to be more thoughtful and not just with Parkinson's but with other illnesses as well for example tremors.

"Bolton has a Parkinson's UK branch of which I am treasurer and we just want other people to know that they are not alone and to be able to give them advice."

Bolton FM radio presenters Tony Bridge and David Carne said they were shocked to hear of Mrs Harbot's treatment.

Mr Bridge said: "After we saw the article in The Bolton News about Susan we partly wanted to get her on the show to talk about the treatment she has been subject to but also to give others information about parkinson's.

"I think the biggest thing we wanted to put across was to ask people to be a little bit more understanding and not to pass judgements on what they believe to be other people's situations.

"Because as it has been demonstrated they are very wide off the mark."

Bolton branch support group Parkinson's UK meet at the Jubilee Centre in Darley Street on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

For more information about the group call Gill Carberry, Branch and Volunteer Support Officer on 0844 225 3654.