FORMER Worcester MP Sir Peter Luff has revealed that he is living with Parkinson's disease, after being diagnosed with the condition three years ago.

Sir Peter, aged 63, who is now chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, says he could have had the disease diagnosed sooner if he knew that he could have referred himself to a specialist, rather than waiting to be referred by a health professional.

He said: "Although I was diagnosed in 2015, in retrospect, what I now recognise as symptoms were apparent in 2011 or 2012.

"Friend who were retired GPs thought there was something wrong and they urged me to have it checked out."

Among the symptoms that he noticed were a weak voice, excessive salivating and joint pain.

"There are many, many symptoms of Parkinson's, and people experience different combinations of them," he said.

"The diagnosis itself took rather a long time, too long in fact, and I wish I had known that I could have referred myself directly to a neurophysiotherapist - a physio specialising in neurological conditions - rather that having to be referred by a GP or a specialist."

Sir Peter said that with medication, he is continuing to live as normal a life as he can.

He said: "The medication has been a real salvation. The loss of mobility is an issue, but for now I am coping well."

He said the diagnosis was not the reason for his retirement from the House of Commons, and he hoped to chair the Heritage Lottery Fund as long as he is able.

He said: "My family are of course upset that I have Parkinson's, but they are very supportive. We've moved to a house with a downstairs bedroom, so we're ready should I need it.

"You just cannot tell what the future is with Parkinson's. Some people suffer a rapid decline and other go on relatively OK for decades. You just have to hope for the best."

And he urged people to become aware of the symptoms of Parkinson's.

"That is part of the reason I have gone public about this, to raise awareness of the disease," he said.

"Friends and family can often see that there is something wrong before you realise it yourself."

Sir Peter was MP for Worcester from 1992 until 1997, and Mid Worcestershire from 1997 to 2015.