CHARITY workers who provide help and support for people suffering from a chronic fatigue syndrome are celebrating a lottery fund injection of more than £100,000.

The cash boost will provide core funding for three years for ME North-East, which helps people with the syndrome myalgic encephalopathy.

Jennifer Elliott, chief executive of the charity based in Chester-le-Street, said: "If at first you don't succeed try and try again. It certainly paid off for us after three attempts we finally made it.

"More than 1,200 people rely on us for support, help, information and understanding.

"We offer a vital service for people with ME - a serious and debilitating illness that is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and accepted on an equal footing with other chronic diseases."

Ms Elliott said with NHS funding being allocated for dedicated clinical services for people with ME, the charity would focus on what is most important for the estimated 10,000 with ME in the region - getting the right health services to meet the needs of patients with this disease.

She said health bosses planned to set a clinic, probably in Chester-le-Street, for County Durham and Darlington, in Newcastle for North Tyneside, in Sunderland for South Tyneside and in Cumbria.

"We will be involved in steering groups in the implementation of these clinics and will be able to help to shape the service to suit the needs of the patients," said Ms Elliott.

"There is still disbelief in the medical profession about the cause of ME. We are convinced in opinion that it is an organic disease.

"It is recognised by the World Health Organisation and by the chief medical officer yet you still have a lot of doctors who refuse to recognise it.

"Part of the funding from the department of health is to allow for the training and education of GPs to understand this illness so they can treat patients."