WITH summer steadily approaching many of us are already looking forward to those warm sunny days out in the open. But spare a thought for the unfortunate folk who break into a cold sweat at the very thought of stepping out of the house.

Now a carer has set up a new group in Chorley for prisoners in their own homes.

Trained counsellor Janet Pickstock is urging sufferers of panic attacks - often connected to agoraphobia - to join the "Freedom From Fear" group which meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month at the CVS office, Eaves Lane, Chorley.

"I've been studying treatment for the problem for the last nine years," says Janet, who has a diploma in clinical and pastoral counselling.

"I know of someone who was unable to go out of the house for 20 years. It can be very traumatic."

Irish-born Janet, aged 34, married with three children, of Montcliffe Road, Chorley, said causes often included stress, anxiety and depression and says the debilitating condition could affect anyone.

"It's very frightening," said Janet. " Sufferers often don't know what's happening to them. They just don't know what it going on.

"They get breathless, pains in the chest and have a fear of going mad. They feel they are losing control, they feel a dread, that something terrible is going to happen."

She explained: "The group was mainly set up to provide encouragement for each another. It could be practical support or simply a friendly word so they don't feel isolated. This sort of problem can make their life very lonely."

Any sufferers of panic attacks or their families wanting more information on the group can ring the CVS office on 263254.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.