by Jo Sword

A Kent woman suffering from a rare condition which stops her recognising faces, is trying to educate teachers on how to spot the condition in children.

Retired librarian Jo Livingston, 65, has lived with Prosopagnpsia, or 'face blindness', all her life and believes most sufferers do not even know they have the condition.

Mrs Livingston, from Bexleyheath, said: "Most people, including many of those who have the condition, do not know that it exists, I did not know until I was 60, I thought I was socially incompetent.

"When I was 60 I read and article about the condition which named it. It explained that it was a bit of your brain that does not work and that lots of people have it.

"The relief was enormous because you stop thinking you are slightly mad and you have an explanation for people."

Researchers believe round two per cent of people suffer from it.

Mrs Livingston added: "One fairly reliable sign is if when you watch a film or television programme you spend half an hour asking 'who is that?' or 'where did they come from?' - because every time there is a change of clothes or hairstyle it looks like a different character."

There have been times when she has not even recognised her husband in photographs.

Because most people have not heard of the condition Mrs Livingston is going into schools to raise awareness amongst teachers.

"Since children are being born with this and I have found that very few special needs teachers are aware of this.

"I have heard that children have been diagnosed with aspergers or ADHD before this condition has been considered."