CHIPPENHAM could be the site for a new multiple sclerosis therapy centre.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray raised the possibility at a meeting to launch the town's first MS Society branch.

He said he was part of a fundraising committee for an MS therapy centre in the west country and Chippenham was a possible site.

MS sufferers, supporters and carers thronged to the Jubilee rooms to launch the branch.

Secretary elect Kate Sweetman urged everyone at the meeting last week to sign up and help provide mutual support, fundraising for research and campaigning on MS issues.

The group already has a patron, with television actor James Grout offering his support.

Mr Grout, from Malmesbury, is well known for his role as Chief Superintendent Strange in the Inspector Morse series.

And Philip Allnatt, whose wife Hazel died of MS in June 1999, said a local businessman had pledged to donate a sum to the fledgling group, in memory of Mrs Allnatt.

MP James Gray has agreed to become president of the branch.

Dr Ken Dawson, consultant neurologist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, addressed the meeting and volunteered his time and expertise.

William Davis, from the MS Society headquarters, said he was impressed with the support and energy evident at the public meeting.

"You have a supportive neurologist and MP already I'm expecting to go outside and see a comet in the sky," he said. Mr Gray told the meeting he had met a number of MS sufferers individually through his MP surgeries who faced the same issues but they did not know each other.

"I thought it would be good to get people together to form a mutual support group," he said.

"It has become a matter close to my heart after two or three years campaigning on it."

Mr Gray, as well as talking about the therapy centre, highlighted the campaign for more to be spent on research, and for drugs such as beta interferon should be made available equally.

Mrs Sweetman described the positive effect weekly meetings with four fellow sufferers had made on their lives.

"When you are not feeling that special you don't want to travel to another town for a meeting," she said.

"Swindon, Warminster and Bath have branches, but Chippenham is a growing town. We need one here.

"Since we started weekly coffee mornings, the five of us have experienced changes in our lives for the better.

"We have made good friends and it is nice to be able to talk about what is happening to us. We also want to have fun and hope to get some social events going."

The first fundraiser will be a concert by the Chippenham Cantata at St Andrew's church on November 18 at 7.30pm when the retiring collection will be donated to the group.

The first meeting was due to be scheduled in the new year but Mrs Sweetman said after the meeting the enthusiasm had been so great the meeting could be brought forward.