THE threat of closure hanging over the region's only rehabilitation centre for people with brain injuries has been lifted.

When the charity Rehab UK announced it was coming to the region four years ago, it was greeted with enthusiasm.

The centre, in Newcastle, was one of only a handful of specially equipped centres in the country.

Set up to help the estimated 5,000 people leaving North-East hospitals each year after treatment for brain injuries, the future looked bright.

But at the end of last year, the charity issued a warning that it could not go on without better funding.

In December, Jonathan Wade, North-East area manager for Rehab UK, said that while health, social and employment services were willing to refer clients to the centre, they were not prepared to fund it properly.

Things had got so bad that six out of 15 staff at the Melbourne Street centre were laid off.

But after a change of heart by a number of organisations, Mr Wade said the centre was now fully funded and that it was hoping to take on more staff.

He said: "We are very grateful to the Press for highlighting the problems we had.

"Things certainly looked grim last year, but the situation has dramatically improved."

He particularly praised the six County Durham primary care trusts after they agreed to increase funding of training places at the centre.

He said: "They agreed that they would all chip in and share the costs. It took the funding up to the level that we needed, which is brilliant."

Rehab UK is now concentrating on the task of helping 40 new clients a year back into work or training, and to assist them in achieving social independence.

"The average length of time it takes for clients to reach the level they aspire to is 44 weeks, but it can take as long as two years," said Mr Wade, who estimated that the centre was in contact with between 60 and 65 people each year.

While Rehab UK is delighted to be providing a service in the region, staff said the number of places the group could offer did not meet demand.