A NEW campaign has been launched utilising bus stops across the borough to raise awareness of how to help people with dementia.

Posters have been placed on more than 100 bus stops to inform people about Guardian Angels devices, which enable them to 'tap their phone to get dementia sufferers home'.

Hundreds of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease wear the devices, which take the form of wristbands, badges, bag/zip tags and keyrings.

If you see anyone wearing one of the devices looking stressed, you can place your smartphone over the device and the person's name and an emergency contact number will be displayed.

The bus stop poster campaign has been launched to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week, which ends on Saturday, May 21.

The campaign sees Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) supporting Atherton-based charity Good Deeds Trust, which designed and developed the Guardian Angels devices.

Atherton councillor Mark Aldred, of both the TfGM committee and Good Deeds Trust, said: "I’d like to thank TfGM for working with us to help raise awareness of the Guardian Angels scheme and help keep people with dementia safe.

“These posters will reach thousands of people and, hopefully, if they come across someone looking distressed and wearing a Guardian Angel device they will know what to do to help them home safely.”

The Guardian Angels scheme is supported by Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

Cllr Aldred joined volunteers and people with dementia to see the new poster on display at the bus shelter next to St Michael and All Angels Church in Atherton.

A weekly session is being held at the church over the summer for people with dementia to develop a new sensory garden, supported by the council’s Deal for Communities Investment Fund.

The garden, on land behind the bus shelter, will be entered in this year’s North West in Bloom awards.

The Good Deeds Trust also provides Dementia Café across the borough.

For more information about the charity visit dementiabuddy.co.uk or call 01942 888990.