NORTH-EAST cancer sufferers as young as 13 are having their sperm frozen to allow them to have children later in life.

Dozens of boys, who would be unable to have children in the future due to them becoming sterile as a result of treatment, are being given hope.

Dr Jane Stewart, a consultant in reproductive medicine at the Newcastle Fertility Centre, said: "We can store sperm for males about to have treatment that might make them sterile. They need to be of the maturity to be able to make the decision for themselves, sign a consent form and provide a sperm sample.

"The youngest we have done this for is 13. With a woman it is more limited. Eggs do not freeze or thaw very well."

Under UK regulations from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, frozen sperm can be stored until a man is 55.

Earlier this week, a couple from Manchester had a baby using sperm frozen 21 years ago.

The man had been left sterile after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for testicular cancer.

But before the treatment, when he was 17, he had five vials of sperm preserved in case he wanted to start a family in the future.