A NORTH-EAST clothing company which has enjoyed spectacular success this year has donated £1m towards medical research at their local university.

This latest donation - to Newcastle University - brings the total given to charitable causes since the Barbour Foundation was set up to more than £8m.

It will help scientists at Newcastle University push the frontiers of research into ageing, human genetics and neurodegenerative disease.

The South Tyneside company famed for its green waxed jackets saw its profits surge by 51 per cent last year, due to the success of a range of new, brightly coloured guilted garments targeted at younger people.

This latest donation to charity means the Barbour Foundation has now donated more than £8m to charitable causes.

Professor Chris Day, pro-vice-chancellor of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University, said: " This is wonderful news. This donation makes a huge difference in our ability to carry out research in disease areas where Newcastle has been strong for many years.

"We will be able to support young career scientists in some of the cutting-edge areas of research which can really make a difference to the healthcare we can provide in the future.

The donation will be used to establish 19 research posts over the next five years.

Professor Day said: "The Barbour Foundation has identified with our vision to further medical research by creating opportunities for bright scientists to develop their ideas here at Newcastle University."

"The projects they will take forward will look at the basic mechanism of specific diseases and will ultimately help us move closer to breakthroughs that will benefit patients here in the region and across the world. We must continue to provide opportunities for younger researchers to explore new treatments for diseases such as dementia, cancer and stroke."

Dame Margaret Barbour, chairman of The Barbour Foundation, said: "The Barbour Foundation was set up to help support organisations and charities in the North-East and I am delighted to make this donation to Newcastle University's Faculty of Medical Sciences.

"One of the greatest challenges we all face is living healthy, longer lives and I have been impressed with the inspiring work carried out in the Faculty of Medical Sciences to help us all achieve that.

"Our donation will enable the next generation of researchers to take their work forward and to improve healthcare not only here in the North-East but across the world."