​Tick-borne Illness Campaign Scotland are looking to raise awareness of the condition

More must be done to tackle Lyme disease in Scotland, say campaigners.

A petition has been sent to the Scottish Government which calls for a public awareness campaign to be launched.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks, which can result in problems with the nervous system and heart, and has been reported by those who have been walking the Highlands.

At present, there is no adequate test available in the UK to diagnose the condition.

The campaign is being launched by The Tick-borne Illness Campaign Scotland, which was setup by Lorraine Murray.

She fell ill with the disease in summer 2014, after being bitten by a tick. “I just thought how on earth could this happen? How was it that I went from super active to seriously ill within months?,” she said.

“I then spent most of the day in my bed, just myself and all my symptoms.

“It was a scary and lonely place. I would get up and get the kids out the door and go back to my bed.”

Carrience Conoghan, coordinator at the Speyside Moorland Group, said testing would reduce the risk to members of the public enjoying the countryside.

She said: “It is important to carry out tick control – which includes sheep dipping and bracken spraying – as part of our wider moorland management practice.

“This not only benefits the grouse but additional bird species and reduces risk to members of the public enjoying the countryside.

“Moorland groups around Scotland fully support his petition as anyone who contracts Lyme disease can be severely affected.”

The petitions committee of the Scottish Government will consider the matter on 14 September.