Sue Holberry lines up three chocolate bars.

"Imagine they are bones," she said.

"That would be the healthy bone," she said, pointing to the fudge-filled one.

The honeycomb bar would be a bone showing early signs of osteoporosis and the one full of bubbles would be the full-blown disease.

The 56-year-old, from Imber Road, Winnall, says the graphic description of "fragile bone disease" was given to her when she discovered she was a sufferer, nearly two years ago.

The knowledge prompted her to find out more and she joined the Winchester National Osteoporosis Society. Now she is part of the team behind a new sufferers' support group.

Osteoporosis, says Sue, is a silent disease - which is what makes it so dangerous. Support and information can help keep the crippling condition in check.

"I was told I had osteoporosis in the spine and hip. My reaction was shock, amazement, horror. What do I do now with my life?

"But, in myself, I just felt the same, so I tried to find out as much as I could; then I decided I wanted to try to help other sufferers.

"You see these little ladies with these humps and you think that must have happened gradually and they probably didn't know they were getting shorter and losing height, then one day it's too late."

So far, Sue has not fractured any bones, she said, but she does take extra care when exercising.

She has to watch what she eats and make sure she stands upright - and she has cut down on caffeine.

"You can trip on a matchstick one day, you fall and put out a hand as a result and it will fracture. As you get older, your reflexes get slower and next time you fall, it will be your hip. That could kill you eventually. That's why it's important really to get this support early on when it's preventable," she added.

Osteoporosis affects one in three women and one in 12 men, according to statistics.

In its worst stages, sufferers lose height and suffer spine curvature. This then affects breathing, digestion and mobility.

The National Osteoporosis Society has around 70 members in Winchester.

Sue says the support group, which had been running for several months before its official launch yesterday (Thursday), is meeting a huge demand.

"It's about support and information," she said.

"We have a helpline and we let GPs know that when someone goes to them and is diagnosed for the first time, they know there's someone they can go to."

So far, the meetings have attracted between 20 and 25 people, mostly in their late 60s or 70s, said Sue.

The group meets on the first Thursday of every month at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital's day hospital.

The launch, which aimed to promote awareness of osteoporosis, took place at the Winchester's Moat House Hotel, in Worthy Lane.

Ring Michelle Clarke, chairman of Winchester NOS group, on 01962-825 187, for more information.