BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has pledged to promote awareness of autism across the town following a reception with the Government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA).

People living with the condition shared their personal stories to highlight the everyday struggles they deal with.

Many people said that awareness of the condition had increased in the last few years, but added that more changes needed to be made.

Mrs Miller said: “More than one in 100 people in the UK have the condition and many have battled to get their needs identified, diagnosed, understood and then met.

“I plan to actively promote more awareness in Basingstoke to improve access to public spaces, employment and services. This will enable more people living with autism to play an active role in their community and to achieve their full potential.”