A forces charity has called on the UK Government to do more to help veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) says it is still not known how to effectively treat Gulf War Illnesses.

Acute and chronic fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems, rashes and diarrhoea are some of the symptoms, and the RBL has urged the Government to carry out more research in to the issue.

From 1991 tens of thousands of British armed forces personnel were sent to take part in the US-led campaign against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

The RBL says research in the US, UK, Australia and Canada has found veterans of the Gulf War report symptoms associated with Gulf War Illnesses at about two to three times the rate of other veterans.

It found they are twice as likely to report post-traumatic stress disorder, have a poorer quality of life, and their symptoms tend to be experienced at a greater intensity than those who served in other comparable conflicts.

The Ministry of Defence said it has funded extensive research into Gulf War illness and continues to monitor developments in the US and insisted it would give consideration to any new research proposals.