A CANCER patient who was told by British doctors he had no chance of survival has been saved by revolutionary treatment in the US.

Lenny Kirk, 47, from Stockton, was told by doctors in Britain there was nothing more they could do to combat his cancers of the lung and lymph glands.

The former tanker driver flew to the US where he underwent pioneering "body radiosurgery", which involves targeted bursts of super-strength radiation that attacks difficult-to-reach tumours.

Friends and family raised more than £22,000 to pay for Mr Kirk's treatment at a New York hospital.

Mr Kirk said: "According to the NHS, I should have died two years ago, but after treatment in New York I am still here. I have been told I have an 80 to 90 per cent chance of being cancer-free for the next 15 years."

Now Mr Kirk is spearheading a campaign to bring the US know-how to the North-East.

"What I want to do now is to help bring one of these fantastic machines to the North-East, which has some of the highest rates of cancer in the country," he said.

The campaign will be launched on November 2 when the world's leading exponent of the new treatment, Dr Gil Lederman from New York, will give a talk about fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy at the Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm.

Cancer specialists have been invited to hear from Dr Lederman, who is believed to have treated former Beatle George Harrison in the final weeks of his life.

More than 30 cancer patients from the North-East have undergone the treatment in New York after being told nothing more could be done for them in Britain. Unfortunately, for some patients it was too late.

These include the late Christine Wright, from near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, whose husband, Norman, is convinced she might still be alive if Britain had the US technology.

He is backing the campaign and has subsidised the cost of Dr Lederman's visit to the North-East out of a fund set up in memory of his wife.

Another supporter is Redcar and Cleveland councillor Sheelagh Clarke, whose youngest brother, Tony Mulloy, died while being treated by Dr Lederman.

The event is also being supported by Debbie Gale from Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, whose father Colin, 53, died of cancer despite making the journey to New York.

* Anyone wishing to attend the event at Tall Trees at midday on Sunday, November 2, should call (01642) 764832.