AN advanced "robot" genes laboratory which will automatically process hundreds of blood samples for signs of disease may be built in the region.

Scientists at the Teesside Genetics Unit hope to set up one of the first automated laboratories in the UK.

The unit, at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, could transform genetic services for about a million people living in Teesside, South Durham and North Yorkshire. It is one of a number of options being considered.

Currently all cases requiring specialist genetic investigation have to be referred to the Centre for Life in Newcastle. The service on Teesside would alert patients that they may be prone to genetic disease.

The new unit will see patients who are suspected of being at heightened risk from an inherited disease.

Most of the patients referred to the new centre will have sophisticated blood tests, designed to find damaged genes.

While these tests will be initially done by hand, one option is to install a fully-automated robot processing system which would allow large numbers of blood samples to be scanned for signs of genetic disease.

It will help save lives by allowing people to discover if they have a heightened risk of a range of diseases, including cancer and heart disease.

They will be offered counselling and a range of services, including extra screening.

In a small minority of cases, women who are at very high risk of breast cancer could be given the option of a double mastectomy to prevent the disease developing.

Dr Paul Brennan, the consultant medical geneticist who heads the unit, said: "We have held clinics in the south of the region for years but we now have a dedicated, spacious new unit in Middlesbrough which will make life so much easier for everyone."

Dr Brennan said it was hoped that the clinic would become part of a national network of genetic testing centres.

"The lab space we have, means we have an amazing regional resource with enormous potential," he said.