Sometimes ME sufferers are forced to give up work

The charity Action for ME is demanding extra funding for research into treatments for the condition, which costs the UK £3.5bn a year.

They claim that for 1% of that cost a cure could be found to help the country's 240,000 sufferers.

Action for ME has gathered 28,000 signatures on a Commons petition asking the government for research funding.

The campaigners plan to display banners on Westminster Bridge made up of the "1% campaign" postcards filled in by thousands of people severely affected by ME.

People with ME have experienced 50 years of neglect Chris Clark Action for ME

The main symptoms are debilitating fatigue, muscle pain and mental fogginess.

The condition has attracted much controversy, with some doubting its existence, and labelling it disparagingly as "yuppie flu". However, it is now widely accepted that ME is very much a real and debilitating condition.

Chris Clark, chief executive of Action for ME, said: "People with ME have experienced 50 years of neglect.

"Thankfully the government is acting to remedy the absence of NHS services, but we are appealing to them to back this up by promoting scientific enquiry into the illness.

"Given that it costs the country £3.5bn a year, the investment of just 1% of that cost to find a cure is excellent value for money - and will bring hope to people with ME."