A BELL tower in Oxford built in the 16th century was lit blue in a magnificent display to mark World Diabetes Day.

As well as Magdalen Tower, which forms part of Magdalen College, turning blue on last night, patients and visitors were invited to learn more about the condition at an open day at the Churchill Hospital on Friday.

It is the first time an Oxford building has been lit to mark World Diabetes Day, an official United Nations Day led by the International Diabetes Federation. It follows in the footsteps of landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye.

Dr Katherine Owen is a consultant on diabetes at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism in Churchill Hospital. She is also employed by the University of Oxford to conduct research on diabetes.

She said: "We wanted to use the opportunity of World Diabetes Day to make people more aware of the condition.

"A lot of people know about diabetes but there are many people living with it or at risk who are not aware."

Dr Owen said estimates suggest there are one million people with diabetes in the UK who do not know they have the condition.

The hospital will host an open day from 2 and 6pm on Friday and scientists, nurses and doctors working daily with patients who live with diabetes will be on hand to answer any questions.

Professor Fredrik Karpe will deliver a talk about the different types of fat and diabetes risk at 4pm.

In Oxfordshire, 30,000 people have diabetes, which is about average when compared with other counties across the country.