THREE years after a police investigation into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale ended, a senior detective will re-examine the evidence.

The move has delighted the 300 members of the support group set up by victims of the former Northallerton surgeon.

Detectives from North Yorkshire Police spent two years investigating allegations against the former head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Friarage Hospital.

Officers looked into the deaths of three of Neale's former patients and allegations of assault and deception.

In 2001, the inquiry was closed after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) told officers there were no grounds to justify prosecution.

Earlier this year, the victim support group, headed by former patient Sheila Wright-Hogeland, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, complained to North Yorkshire Police about the way the inquiry was conducted.

The group's members are aggrieved that officers never interviewed Neale.

They are also concerned that officers failed to take matters further after the General Medical Council found Neale lied to patients.

Neale was struck off the medical register in 2000 after 34 out of 35 specimen allegations of serious professional misconduct were found proved by the General Medical Council.

Victims are angry that Neale managed to get a job at the Friarage in 1985 despite being struck off in Canada after the death of two patients.

In a statement, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Read, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "I am aware that the force carried out a two-year inquiry into allegations concerning Richard Neale.

"This was concluded in 2001 and the decision was taken in conjunction with the CPS at that time that there were no grounds to justify a prosecution or an expansion of that investigation.

"As a point of good practice, it is appropriate that I conduct a further investigation of that work. I will be re-examining the evidence and I have also agreed to meet the victim support group as part of that process."

Graham Maloney, advisor to the support group, said: "I am pleased that the police have taken this approach and acknowledged that they have to look at the evidence."

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.