MOURNERS attending the funeral of former MP Roland Boyes heard yesterday how research into the disease which claimed his life is now to be centred in the North-East.

Mr Boyes, who was diagnosed with Alzheimers eleven years ago, had seized the time he had left to raise 40,000 to establish an Imaging Room at Newcastle General Hospital for the treatment of the condition.

And yesterday at his funeral service at St Cuthbert's Church in Peterlee, it was revealed that following on the success of "Roland's Room'' the Government office One NorthEast has agreed to provide funding for a new centre at the General which will spearhead research into the disease.

A packed church heard how the former Euro MP and parliamentary member for Houghton and Washington East, who died at his home in Peterlee at the age of 69, had fought a long and hard battle against Alzheimers nursed by his wife Pat and sons David and Paul.

Born in Holmfirth, Mr Boyes had studied chemistry at Leicester University moving on to teacher training at Coventry Training College.

Later with a degree in economics and a Masters degree in Education, Mr Boyes then took up a post at Durham County Council's social services department rising to assistant director of Social Services.

A life-long member of the Labour Party he had also served first on Peterlee Town Council and Easington District Council and then became Durham's first Euro MP before securing the Houghton and Washington parliamentary seat.

Among those who attended the funeral were Lord Foster, the former Labour Party Chief Whip, Alan Milburn, Darlington MP and former Secretary of State for Health, Easington's MP John Cummings, Chris Mullen, member for Sunderland South and Newcastle MPs Dave Clelland and Doug Henderson.

Also among the mourners were Mr Boyes' successor at Houghton and Washington, Fraser Kemp and former Gateshead and Washington West MP Joyce Quin who were joined by the Regional Director of Labour Party Fiona Twycross.

Representing Peterlee Town Council was mayor Coun Robert Kyle and attending on behalf of Easington District Council was chairman, Coun Charles Walker.

Both Mr Boyes' sons David and Paul gave a tribute to their father at the service and speaking afterwards Mrs Boyes said that following a period of "quiet'' she would be continuing her late husband's determined campaign to help battle the debilitating Alzheimer's disease.