MP and Home Secretary Sajid Javid recently visited the town's Life After Stroke Centre, the only one of its kind in the UK.

Mr Javid was given a tour of the centre, spoke to staff about the importance of stroke services in the area and met stroke survivors.

As MP for Bromsgrove, Mr Javid originally visited the centre when it was first built in 2012.

The centre serves as the main headquarters for the Stroke Association in the region, which provides life-changing services for stroke survivors and their families throughout Worcestershire.

During his recent visit Mr Javid said: “Stroke destroys lives, so I’m keen to ensure stroke survivors in Bromsgrove have access to the best possible care and long-term support.

"With stroke now a new priority for the NHS in England, stroke survivors should expect to see improvements to local provision of stroke treatment and care including better access to the rehabilitation therapies they need to help with their recovery.”

In February, Worcestershire County Council and the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) granted another 12 months of funding for vital stroke services in Worcestershire.

This will enable the Stroke Association to continue providing home support for people who are unable to leave their homes; grants to those who have been left in financial difficulty as well as the activities, advice and support offered at the centre and other dedicated groups in the region.

Jacqui Cuthbert, from the Stroke Association said: “We are delighted that Sajid could visit us and see first-hand the amazing work that goes on at the Stroke Association. Our staff and volunteer groups, many of whom are stroke survivors themselves, are stroke to the core and work tirelessly to offer the best possible support to the communities they serve”