Eating disorders in Hertfordshire are on the rise, so to cope the services have received £600,000 in funding.

A specialist team at Hertfordshire County Council will receive extra funding to increase staffing as part of a scheme to improve emotional wellbeing services for children.

Around 150 children and young people in Hertfordshire are living with an eating disorder but not all of them seek treatment.

Dr Rami Eliad, a GP in Watford who leads on services for children and young people for Herts Valleys CCG, said: “Nationally we know there’s a need for earlier intervention and prevention work to help children and young people who are developing eating disorders.

“We are investing in the community eating disorder service using a family-based treatment model because it has proven results.”

From the funding, specialists can be involved in training school staff to recognise early signs and refer young people sooner.

Kathryn Tompsett, 21, from London Colney, said that she would not have recovered from anorexia without the support of the eating disorders team.

She said: “My practitioner always believed that I would get better and never judged me or was disappointed when things didn’t go well.”

Miss Tompsett was 14 when she started to slim down for the summer holidays, but within months her weight plummeted to less than 6 and a half stone.

Her Father, Len, said: “It was like watching my daughter die before my eyes. Losing her hair and mornings were awful. We would go to wake her and we’d be thinking ‘please God let her still be alive.’

“Anorexia is an evil, devious illness, not a choice. Penny, Kathryn’s practitioner, saved our daughter’s life, there’s no doubt about it.”

If you’re worried about a young relative or yourself, you can visit your GP or go online for information at www.youngminds.org.uk

You can also speak to CAMHS’ mental health helpline on 0300 777 0707 from 8am-7pm or 01438 843322 from 5pm-8am.

Young people aged 10-25 in Hertfordshire can get free online counselling support at www.Kooth.com and the Samaritans helpline is 08457 909090. In an emergency, dial 999.