A GROUP of patients from Worcester and Malvern have been blowing the whistle on lung disease to raise awareness about breathing conditions.

Malvern and Worcester Breathe Easy Group - the local branch of the British Lung Foundation - staged an awareness event at the Guildhall where they blew plastic whistles to get people's attention and gave out leaflets.

This week is Breathe Easy Week 2007. The group's treasurer Mike Bowker said the most common form of lung disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the group members asked people to sign a petition calling for better diagnosis, treatment and care of people with lung disease.