NEW legislation could lead to a string of court cases from infertile couples who have been refused help by their health authority.

And the rules might even lead to North-East authorities having to spend millions of pounds on free treatment.

The law is set to end the so-called postcode lottery, which means some people could miss out on treatment because of where they live.

That is because health authorities have different rules on who is eligible, so someone missing out on treatment in one area could have received it free on the NHS in a neighbouring authority.

Any couple wanting to challenge decisions previously had to go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

But the European Convention on Human Rights becomes British law in October, and some couples are already planning to take health authorities to court.

Many authorities have strict rules on who can be treated, and they vary depending on where people live.

For example, a woman can be treated at 40 in Newcastle and North Tyneside, but not in neighbouring Gateshead and South Tyneside where the maximum age is 37, or Northumberland where she must be under 36.

It is still not clear as to whether the new legislation will mean couples can take their local authority to court.

Health Minister Tessa Jowell is continuing to insist it will not be possible, but some fertility experts and law specialists say it will mean couples have the right to mount a challenge.