World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day

Today is World IBD Day. A day to raise awareness and discuss Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This is a group of diseases - the most common are Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis - which can cause a whole host of symptoms including loose stools, blood in the poo, fatigue, anaemia, and unexplained weight loss.

Matt Bailey found out a bit more about Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Professor Chris Lamb, who is a consultant gastroenterologist at Newcastle Hospitals, and leads research into ways of treating this group of diseases.

It's an issue that's really close to the heart of our reporter Leigh Jones. He was diagnosed with Crohn's last summer.

First of all he spoke with Jennifer Rupp, a student from Consett, whose mystery illness as a teenager was finally diagnosed as Crohn's after five years and her Mam kept pushing to get answers.