A RYEDALE charity has taken its campaign to raise awareness of a devastating brain condition to the House of Lords.

The Encephalitis Society, which is based in Malton, was invited to the Palace of Westminster by Baroness Anne McIntosh of Pickering, a vice-president of the charity.

Guests learnt about the work of the charity, which aim to provide support, raise awareness and help fund research into encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

Baroness McIntosh, who was the MP for Thirsk and Malton between 2010 and 2015, said: “It was a pleasure for me to help open the doors of the House of Lords to the Encephalitis Society.

"Many of the guests who attended were unaware of encephalitis and, naturally, of the devastation that it can cause on those who are lucky to survive and their families. I am confident they will have gone home after a wonderful evening with an understanding of encephalitis and hopefully they will spread that message among their friends, family and colleagues.”

Guests included actresses Jemma Redgrave and Kika Markham, gourmet cook and television presenter Tonia Buxton, Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, Guardian journalist Simon Hattenstone, Lord Roy Kennedy of Southwark and Lord Alex Carlile of Beriew.

Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society, said: “A recent YouGov poll we commissioned revealed that around 80 per cent of the UK public do not know what encephalitis is - a shocking statistic which we are working tirelessly to change.

“Events such as this and the fruit that they bare are an important step in our long-term objectives to make encephalitis as well-known as motor neurone disease and bacterial meningitis among British households.

“We are very grateful to Baroness McIntosh for her hospitality and the first-class support she has already shown to the Society since she agreed to become our vice president.”

The Society will return to the Houses of Parliament later in the year when Mr Hollinrake hosts the charity at an event to launch next year’s World Encephalitis Day campaign.

The Encephalitis Society is inviting the public to join staff and members for a drinks reception and art exhibitionat its headquarters on Thursday, September 7. Anyone who would like to attend should email admin@encephalitis.info