Croydon Epilepsy Society has now found suitable premises and will no longer need to rely on honorary secretary, Rosemary Aselford, for a base.

Mrs Aselford devoted her small home to the cause of helping epileptics when the society moved from its South Croydon

offices in February.

At the time, abandoning its centre with an annual rent of £12,000 was the only alternative to the charity's collapse.

It had been dealt a severe financial blow last April when Croydon Council decided to withdraw its £36,000 service contract because it said too few people were using the Epilepsy Society.

But since its plight was featured in the Croydon Guardian, a new place has been found with help from the council.

The society is now considering if it can afford the £350-a-month rent on a hall in The Len Pyant Community Centre in Elmwood Road, Croydon.

Mrs Aselford said: "We were pleased with what we saw and we can move in just before Easter. But we can only go forward as we wish to with the provision of the

advice and information centre, drop-in facilities and a small day centre if we can be sure of the support of our members."

That means the Croydon Epilepsy Society is appealing to its supporters to help raise more funds. Financial help has

already been promised through coffee mornings and jumble sales.

The hope is that the society can continue to help epileptic sufferers in the borough, as it has done since 1974.

Some are re-taught reading and writing skills, while others require more intense care. "We help them realise they can succeed," said Mrs Aselford.

The plan is to open the new centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 6am and 6pm.