A CHARITY that provides support to victims of torture and human rights abuses is to open a centre in the North-East.

The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture said it was responding to the need of refugees and asylum seekers who had suffered in their countries of origin.

To be based in Newcastle, the centre will cover the region and cost about £100,000-a-year to run.

Some of the funding will come from an anonymous donor.

It is expected that the centre, which will provide medical, psychological and practical support to victims, will open later this year.

The plans were unveiled at a reception for Medical Foundation supporters at Wallington Hall in Cambo, Northumberland, which was attended by former Beirut hostage John McCarthy, one of the charity's patrons.

Charity director Malcolm Smart said: "We will consult with local health professionals and other agencies coming into contact with torture survivors to decide how best to focus our services in the region.

"Depending on demand, the kind of direct help that we could offer includes counselling, and possibly a medico-legal report-writing service, too, which would enable torture survivors who are seeking asylum to have their injuries documented by an expert doctor.

"The doctor's findings can then be presented by the victim as evidence in support of his or her asylum claim."

The Medical Foundation has been active in the North-East for four years, helping set up and train a network of more than 90 workers who offer support to asylum seekers that have been tortured.

Already working with the organisation in the North-East are doctors, lawyers, community workers, counsellors and psychologists.

Emma Williams, the foundation's regional development co-ordinator, said: "The emphasis will be on providing one or two core services and training doctors and other health professionals to familiarise them with the special needs of torture survivors.

"Historically, the region has not had a significant multicultural population and the arrival of more than 7.000 asylum seekers has, therefore, posed a significant challenge for existing services and communities.

"We have worked with a broad range of services, and the region's capacity to meet the needs of survivors of torture has developed rapidly and impressively."