A MIDDLEWICH support group for parents and carers of children suffering from Asperger's, autism and ADHD has thanked Fiona Bruce after the MP highlighted their struggles in parliament.

Fiona, who represents the town in the House of Commons, spoke late in April about how difficult parents of children living with autism find it to receive appropriate support.

The speech came after World Autism Awareness Week and Schools' Autism Awareness Week, and gave local stories national recognition.

In her speech, Fiona said: "It is said that a society is judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable. Among our most vulnerable are children with special educational needs, including those on the autism spectrum.

"I want to give a voice to the Middlewich parents and carers support group. The situation is described by far too many with these words: 'every day feels like a fight'.

"Given the right help, appropriate support can be really effective. Surely, we want for every child, including those with autism, the best start in life, and it can be achieved."

Jane Hurley, who founded the support group in October, invited Fiona to hear some of the 50 members' stories and was pleased with the way they were conveyed in Westminster.

"We had a meeting with Fiona back in December and she actually took notes and listened," said Jane

"When she was speaking in Parliament we were glued to the TV and we were buzzing afterwards.

"The problem is there’s no training, and we find there needs to be more awareness for employers to have an understanding of the different skills people on the autistic spectrum can offer."

Another group member, Asperger’s sufferer Michelle Parsons, said: "It was really good to hear Fiona talk – a few people were crying. We just hope that something will come from it.

"It was good to see that our MP has an interest because a lot of people are still quite ignorant, if that’s the right word, of the condition. The more people know about it, the better."