SCIENTISTS in the North-East have succeeded in cloning Britain's first human embryos.

The announcement came on the day that another team of researchers in Korea revealed they had taken a "giant step" closer to developing revolutionary treatments based on therapeutic cloning.

A Korean-led team announced the creation of the first embryonic stem cells genetically tailored to match a group of patients.

Similar cells could, in future, be used to treat diseases and rebuild failing organs in patients without having to overcome the problem of immune system rejection.

They also open up exciting new avenues for fundamental research into diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's.

The achievement by Newcastle University researchers in cloning an early form of embryo, known as a blastocyst, is a huge step forward for medical research in the UK.

While the Koreans are ahead, the North-East scientists are the only other group in the world working in this field.

The research at the Centre For Life, in Newcastle, relied on the voluntary donation of 36 surplus eggs from 11 North-East women undergoing fertility treatment.

Last May, scientists at Newcastle University were granted permission to carry out the controversial and pioneering research. This led to the creation of three blastocysts, which were clones of the original donor.

Pro-life campaigners have condemned the project to clone Britain's first human embryo as "Frankenstein science".

While the Newcastle team has said its work will not lead to a cloned baby, there are fears that maverick scientists will now try to clone babies.

The Tyneside scientists removed the genetic material from a human egg cell and replaced it with the genetic material of a patient using a technique called nuclear transfer.

The cell was made to divide into stem cells, which have the potential to develop into almost every type of human cell, including nerve cells, heart cells and pancreatic cells. The theory - which has already worked with animals - is that these cells can be injected back into the sick patient, replacing cells that have degenerated.

Last year, the Korean team became the first in the world to clone a human embryo, using eggs and donor cells from the same people.

This time, the team succeeded in obtaining stem cell lines from embryos created by bringing together unrelated donor cells and eggs.

In every case, the genetic fingerprint of the cell line matched the original donor.

Skin cells from 11 men and women were used to provide the donor DNA. Among them were nine people with spinal cord injuries, one who had juvenile diabetes, and one with a genetic immune condition that increases the risk of infections.

A key discovery was that the age of the women providing the eggs made a crucial difference.

Also important was the fact that only freshly-harvested eggs were used, not those left over from fertility treatments.

Two of the Newcastle team, Professor Alison Murdoch, who chairs the British Fertility Society, and Dr Miodrag Stojkovic, said in a statement: "We are delighted to hear of the great progress that is being made by Professor Hwang and his colleagues.

"They have shown conclusively that these techniques can be successful in humans.

"The promise of new treatments based on stem cell technology is moving nearer to becoming a realistic possibility."

Prof Murdoch added: "The scientists have done a fantastic job.

"But they couldn't have done it without the generous donations of North-East couples who helped by donating their cells."

While the two teams are celebrating, experts from King's College, London, and the National Blood Service have sounded a note of caution.

They believe that, without adequate screening of donors, the premature use of stem cell therapy could put patients at risk of serious conditions such as the degenerative brain disease vCJD.

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