By Jane Elliott BBC News health reporter

She was too embarrassed to go out

The pain from the ulcer was so excruciating she needed powerful painkillers, but she says it was the indignity of the condition that affected her the most.

But with the help and care of a new social club, set up for people with chronic leg problems, she was soon back on her feet.

Marina, 45, who has a family history of leg ulcers said when her problems started that she was sure her social life was at an end.

Worse

She said her ulcer, which at its largest measured 5.5cms by 3.5cms, gave off such an unpleasant odour that she was too ashamed to go out.

"Because it is rotting flesh the smell is dreadful.

"I was really conscious of it. When I went out to the doctor's surgery I would sit at the other side to anyone else because I was worried they could smell it. I could smell it and I thought everyone else could to. It was so debilitating.

I could smell it and I thought everyone else could to. It is so debilitating Marina Turley

"My social life stopped and I got really depressed.

"The only person I had known with a leg ulcer, before I got one, was my mum. She had them for 10 years. They did not heal up and I became frightened that I would have to give up work for ever."

When Marina's GP surgery suggested she try a new approach to dealing with her condition she was reluctant, but agreed to attend the newly formed 'Leg Club', in her local town of Evesham, in Worstershire.

Set up by a former district nurse the clubs aim to offer patients a 'holistic approach' to healing.

The clubs, open to all ages, usually meet one a week in a non-medical setting and need no appointments, so members can drop in for chats over tea and coffee while waiting for their treatment.

"When the nurses told me about these leg clubs I must admit I was very sceptical," said Marina.

"But the leg club was being held in a church hall and I thought how would that benefit me, rather than having my dressings done in the surgery.

"It was fantastic, my leg ulcer started to heal and is now the size of a pin head.

"I am going back to work after a year off sick and I feel on top of the world. It is absolutely fantastic and the care was brilliant."

Clubs

Ellie Lindsay, who set up clubs and has now formed a new charity to help people with leg ulcers and other chronic leg problems, said she had been deeply concerned by the large number of patients she saw with ulcers, which never seemed to heal.

She became convinced that treating these people socially could help to improve their recovery and eliminate their isolation.

"For the first time people these people got role model support and for the first time they started to heal."

Leg ulcers Leg ulcers affect about 100,000 people in the UK and cost the NHS over �400 million a year to treat

But she said that as the clubs became more and more successful the case-load grew and she could not manage alone so she launched the charity.

She said that as well as managing the recovery of people with existing leg problems, the charity was also concentrating on raising awareness of the condition and helping warn people about how to avoid getting leg ulcers, such as keeping their skin hydrated and wearing stockings where necessary.

Everyone attending the clubs also gets an assessment of their legs to prevent any potential problems.

But she said the problem was how to 'sell' leg care to the young.

"The problem is how to turn something unsexy into something sexy.

"Compression hosiery now can be very glamorous, but how do you get that message across to people in their 20s and 30s?"

Recovery

Suffolk GP Dr Robert Bawden agreed that treating patients in this sort of setting could aid recovery.

"Leg ulcers cause pain, loss of mobility and infection," he said.

"They often smell unpleasant causing embarrassment, depression and social isolation.

"Leg Clubs combat social isolation bringing people together with similar complaints in a non-medical situation.

"The environment is non threatening and encourages patients to share their common concerns.

"They are more effective in effecting wound healing than traditional methods of leg ulcer care.

"They also encourage prevention and reduce recurrence of ulceration. The feedback I have had from my patients is universally enthusiastic and positive."

Dr Bawden said raising patient awareness was an important tool.

"Many ulcers could be easily prevented given correct advice at an early stage.