PATIENTS at an Oxford clinic that treats people with eating disorders have called for more funding and services to help tackle the illnesses.

The call coincides with today's start of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, a national event organised by Beating Eating Disorders, BEAT, to raise awareness of the problem.

Patients at Cotswold House, in the Warneford Hospital, Headington, said they wanted to break down some of the misconceptions surrounding eating disorders.

One 56-year-old patient from Oxford, who asked to be known only as Sue, has been battling her eating disorder for more than 40 years.

She said: "If you have cancer, money is poured into the services. With mental health, and in particular eating disorders, there is not enough funding."

So effective is Cotswold House, it attracts patients from across the region - with people travelling from areas where there is no provision for those with eating disorders.

A teenage girl from Bedfordshire, who is receiving treatment at Cotswold House, agreed there was a problem.

The girl, who asked not to be named, said: "There is such a lack of support all over, you have to go so far out to find it. Clinics aren't widely available and there are simply not enough to help the people who need it."

Helen Green, 28, from Reading, said: "It can be a battle to get those services when you are at your most vulnerable."

BEAT estimates there are around one million people in the UK that suffer from an eating disorder of some kind.

And about 20 per cent of those who become seriously ill, die prematurely.

All the patients agreed there were a lot of misconceptions surrounding eating disorders and the reasons people developed them.

Miss Green said: "I wasn't striving to get to a size zero or to look like Victoria Beckham, it was a way of controlling my life and dealing with things that were going on.

"And it's not just a young persons' illness, there are people of all ages that suffer from eating disorders."

Rachel Smith, 24, developed her eating disorder before she came to Oxford to study.

She said recent television programs where people have starved themselves to drop to a size zero are irresponsible.

She said: "There was a recent show where Louise Redknapp (wife of former Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp starved herself to get down to a size zero.

"I feel these shows have a negative affect and encourage teenagers and adults to try these things."

Miss Green added: "The reality of having an eating disorder is actually thoroughly miserable and can destroy your life."

Nicky Boughton, clinical psychologist at Cotswold House, said: "The most crucial thing is recognising someone has a problem early on and getting the help as soon as possible.

"But people need to recognise they need the help and that is really the first step."