A NEW support group for heart failure victims in Darlington has held its first meeting.

The class aims to bring together people living with the condition so they can support each other, identify common problems and obtain help and advice.

The group meets every third Monday of the month, from 2pm to 4pm, at Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington, which has agreed to sponsor the event.

The initiative was set up by Jill Drinkall, a specialist nurse who works for Darlington Primary Care Trust and the British Heart Foundation.

Mrs Drinkall said: "People living with heart failure can feel very isolated, but this is about bringing people together to help them to support each other."

The group is supported by Jerry Murphy, a consultant cardiologist at Darlington Memorial Hospital.