The charity, based in the Lake District, is looking to raise £500,000 to fund clinical trials led by Lancaster University’s Professor Christian Holscher and Dr Hedley Emsley of the Royal Preston Hospital. Both neurological experts believe they could be close to identifying a drug that could assist Motor Neurone patients in the early stages of the disease.

In response, AID has come up with what it calls its AID Memoire – a circular disc on which the renewal dates for a driver’s MOT, vehicle tax and motor insurance policy can be written.  The disc can be bought for £2.50 and then stuck on the vehicle’s windscreen to provide a reminder.

Charity spokesperson Paul Adorian said: “We could be close to a breakthrough and need to get the drugs trial off the ground, with the support of the motoring public. Our trial will not only assist Motor Neurone patients but also those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as these stem from similar cellular processes.”

For more details, call 015394 48459.