Chronic pain sufferers form a new community

The club meets in Lydney, Cinderford and Coleford

A club which supports people living chronic conditions has created a community network to help sufferers.

Club Connect meets several times a month in Gloucestershire to help people who have conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Chronic pain is pain that persists or keeps coming back for longer than three months.

Louise French, one of the members of the group, said: "When you talk to somebody and you get the same look back - they get it, which is hugely important."

Shannon Dunkley was born with scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine, and also suffers from fibromyalgia.

"It means a lot to us to help others as well, just to let them they're not on their own - we understand," she said.

She added some people think she "looks fine" so would find it hard to understand her pain.

"They can sympathise but they could never understand," she added.

The club, which meets in Lydney, Cinderford and Coleford, was set up to connect people who can understand each other's conditions.