A GOVERNMENT rethink on so-called hybrid embryos makes it likely that North-East stem cell scientists can soon begin world-beating research.

The move opens the door to experiments involving every known kind of human-animal hybrid.

It is now likely that Newcastle University researchers will get the approval next month to create human-animal embryos.

The new measures are contained in a revised version of the Human Tissue and Embryology Bill which will be included in the Queen's Speech next month.

They were set out as part of the Government's response to a parliamentary committee's verdict on the Bill.

The decision means experimental work could include so-called "chimeras", made of a mix of cells from different species.

Last month, a team of researchers from the Institute of Human Genetics in Newcastle were given the go ahead "in principle" by regulators to create human-animal embryos.

The Newcastle scientists want to use plentiful supplies of eggs from cows in their efforts to understand how to produce human stem cells on demand.

These cells, which have the ability to become different types of human tissue, can only be produced by manipulating embryos and ultimately could be used to treat patients with diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Muscular Dystrophy.

Only two years ago, the Newcastle scientists succeeded in cloning Britain's first human embryos.

They removed the genetic material from a human egg cell and replaced it with an individual patient's genetic material, using a technique called nuclear transfer.

The cell was then electrically stimulated and made to divide into stem cells.

The theory, which has worked with animals, is that these cells can be injected back into a sick patient, replacing cells which have degenerated.

Their research, which now looks almost certain to get the go-ahead, will involve removing the genetic material from cows' eggs and injecting a nucleus of human cells into the egg, creating a "hybrid", which will be 99.9 per cent human and 0.1 animal.

There is no intention of putting such an embryo into a human womb and the intention is purely to learn new techniques.

Dr Lyle Armstrong, the lead scientist at Newcastle's stem cell unit, said the news was "very encouraging" and "is of benefit to many scientists".

Dr Armstrong said the Government response "suggests that they recognise the potential of this type of research"