The actress, who is baring all to appear as one of the stripping Calendar Girls at Chichester Festival Theatre, posed for pictures to back the Alzheimer's Society Memory Walks, which are taking place around the country, including ones in Southsea and Gosport.

The 60-year-old is a vocal supporter of the charity after her mother, Ruth, suffered with dementia for 10 years, not recognising her own family towards the end of her illness before dying of pneumonia in 2004 aged 82.

Lynda said: 'I watched what the illness can do at first-hand, and I wanted to lend my support.

'Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease. I just feel so heart-
broken for carers and their families.'

Lynda, perhaps still best known for playing the mum in the Oxo TV commercials, said Alzheimer's was still not taken as seriously as other illnesses.

She said: 'Anything to do with the mind, people are nervous about.
'People think getting dementia and becoming forgetful is going to happen to all of us. It's the idea of ''I'm having a senior moment''. It's not derogatory but it's how people think.'

Sandra Magnus, from the Portsmouth branch of the Alzheimer's Society, said local members were thrilled to get Lynda's support.

Mrs Magnus said: 'It's wonderful she would take the time out to support us. Some of the people who receive our services were thrilled to bits to meet her.

'She is a very nice lady, and her support has given us a boost. Dementia is not a sexy illness if I can term it like that. Hopefully Lynda's support will raise our profile.'

For details of the walks, click Next Page.