VOLUNTEERS who worked with victims' families after September 11 are to address a major conference in the region.

Cruse Bereavement Care is organising the meeting next month in Darlington to explore how people can be best supported after major traumatic events.

The keynote speaker will be international author Ted Bowman, but other presentations and workshops will be led by some of the Cruse volunteers who went to Ground Zero in New York.

The Home Office invited the volunteers to travel to America to support the British families of those who died after the terrorist attacks.

Some also returned for the memorial service at Ground Zero which was attended by the bereaved and those who survived the tragedy.

Darlington volunteer Alan, who does not want to be identified, attended both the memorial service in New York and the later ceremony held in Westminster Abbey.

He said: "The service at Ground Zero was perfect and helped families get some closure on events."

Alan is now on stand-by to return to New York to help any British families who need his help.

The conference in Darlington, on May 24, will bring together health, social, community and education professionals from throughout the region.

It will aim to teach them what the needs of bereaved people are and how those who have suffered major trauma can be helped to come to terms with the experience.

Part of the day will focus on what would happen if there was a major incident in the North-East and how people could be helped.

The conference day will also be used to launch the new Tees Valley area of Cruse which will amalgamate all the former branches in the area.