ENGLAND’S first Proton Beam Therapy cancer treatment centre is to be built in the North-East.

Proton Partners International have announced plans to build the centre on the Earth Balance site near Bedlington in Northumberland, capable of treating 700 patients a year.

Earlier this month the company announced that it had started work on its first site in Newport, Wales, with a third to be built in London.

Gordon McVie, Chairman of Proton Partners International Ltd, said: “Our goal is to herald a new era of cancer care provision in the UK, bringing the first high energy Proton Beam Therapy centres to the UK and therefore unveiling our second site today marks another significant milestone.

“It is estimated that around 10 per cent of patients who receive radiotherapy would be better treated by Proton Beam Therapy”.

The treatment created headlines around the world last year, when the parents of five-year-old Ashya King removed their son from hospital in Southampton to take him to Prague for cancer treatment using proton beam therapy.

Cardiff-based Proton Partners announced it would open three UK centres to offer the treatment to NHS and private patients.

Speaking at the launch event, Councillor Grant Davey, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “We are delighted Northumberland has been chosen as the first place in England to be able to provide high energy Proton Beam Therapy.

“This is not only good news for the county – it will provide a great economic boost to the whole region and highlight our commitment as a place to invest for the future.”