VICTIMS of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have criticised a former mayor for urging them to take part in a private inquiry into the scandal.

John Bacon, who was mayor of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in 1983, made his appeal last week to former patients who have refused to take part in the independent inquiry because they want a full public inquiry.

Last night, Graham Maloney, from the patients' support group, said 18 women had contacted him to express their anger at Mr Bacon's comments. Another six had contacted the group's chairwoman, Sheila Wright- Hogeland.

"The anger of the victims ringing up has been immense," he said. "What they are saying is 'all we want is a robust and full inquiry'.

"John Bacon thinks he can advise victims, after what they have suffered, to enter an inquiry with which they are bitterly disappointed and do not agree.

"There is a lot of anger that somebody who was not involved in this is advising these ladies what to do."

Only a handful of patients have come forward to give evidence at the independent inquiry, which was set up to investigate how the NHS dealt with complaints against Mr Neale, who was struck off for serious professional misconduct at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital three years ago.

Mr Maloney said victims felt the inquiry would not tackle the real issues behind the Neale scandal.

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.