NATIONAL Lottery funds will mean a North-East charity will be able to help more patients who are in constant pain.

Members of Campain Durham, a group set up to fight for better services for pain sufferers, have received a £1,500 grant from the National Lottery's Awards For All programme.

Yesterday, Sister Gloria Cook, of Darlington Memorial Hospital's pain clinic, presented a cheque to members of Campain.

The money will be used to print 20,000 copies of a leaflet giving information about the causes of chronic pain and pain relief treatments available from the NHS and complementary therapists.

The leaflet was compiled by Christine Brydon, the charity's development officer, with guidance from health professionals,

Mary Hawgood, founder and chairman of Campain Durham, said: "We are extremely pleased to have received this award because although we are fortunate to have some NHS pain relief clinics, these are often over-subscribed and under-funded, since chronic pain management is at the bottom of the agenda when it comes to NHS budgeting and spending."

Mrs Hawgood said the leaflet would not only be useful to anyone in chronic pain, but would also help the charity become more well known in the region.

Bi-monthly Campain group meetings are held in Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Sunderland and Consett.

Apart from providing a platform for health professionals, the meetings offer group members an opportunity to share their experiences with each other.

Mrs Brydon said the charity wanted to thank Sister Cook for her help in compiling the leaflet.

The document can be obtained from a variety of outlets, including the Holland and Barrett store in Durham, The Health Food Warehouse in Darlington, the town hall library in Bishop Auckland, Holland and Barrett in Sunderland, and Salus in Consett.

For details of Campain meetings call Christine Brydon on (01325) 244865.