A weekly newspaper staff member made headlines in her own publication after deciding to raise awareness about her rare sun allergy.

Victoria Harrold, left, a senior telesales executive, was the subject of a story in the Mansfield Chad after being diagnosed with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

She was told she had the extremely rare genetic condition around 18 months ago after suffering with unexplained pain, swelling and blisters her whole life whenever she was in the sunshine.

It is believed less than 30 people in the country have been diagnosed with the condition so Victoria asked editorial staff at the paper she worked for to write a story on her – in a bid to gain more understanding about it from fellow residents in Mansfield.

She said: “I want people to know, because I have walked into town with my hat on before and had people take the mickey, because they don’t understand.

“I also want to raise awareness because there may be more people out there struggling, who may have the condition and are being told there’s nothing wrong with them.”

Victoria has to cover up completely before going out, even putting on a hat, coat and gloves in the height of summer, and also has to wear reflective Dundee cream to minimise the risk of a reaction.

She added: “I dread summer coming. I look at people when they are outside having fun while I have to watch the clouds and wait for the shade to come over so I can go outside.

“I miss not being able to sit in the sun but I have to be so careful. I have never been abroad and not been on a proper holiday for four or five years.

“It puts me off because I can’t use my hands or anything if I have a bad reaction.”

EPP is caused by a faulty gene that causes a build-up of a porphyrin chemical in the blood and leads to sensitivity to sunlight, but Victoria is the only one in her family affected by it.