A national epilepsy charity set up by bereaved families and run out of a Wantage home since 1997 is expanding its work locally and nationally.

The charity is moving into its first official headquarters at the town's Old Tramway offices thanks to fundraising by bereaved families and support from Abbey Properties.

Epilepsy is the UK's most common serious neurological condition, affecting about 400,000 people. It kills at least 1,000 people a year nationally.

Jane Hanna, founder and director of the charity Epilepsy Bereaved, said: "Our new premises in Wantage will allow us to give improved support to families affected by sudden and unexpected deaths (Sudep) and will allow us to develop our work with many of our families who wish to make a difference in their local area by raising awareness and campaigning for improved services for people with epilepsy.

"We have examples of hospitals changing their policies and increasing their services for people with epilepsy as a direct result of a bereaved relative being active in raising awareness of the issues."

Since 1995 the charity has succeeded in gaining national and international recognition of Sudep as well as providing the first bereavement support service for families affected by it.