LAWYERS who represented the victims of serial killer Harold Shipman are to help campaigners fighting for a public inquiry into disgraced surgeon Richard Neale.

Victims of the North Yorkshire surgeon have rejected the Government's offer of an NHS inquiry behind closed doors.

They believe a public inquiry - or at the least an investigation chaired by a senior lawyer - is the only way to find out what really happened.

Now the leading law firm of Alexander Harris, which represents nearly 200 families who suffered at the hands of Dr Shipman, has offered to help the Neale group.

Last week, two members of the Neale campaign team travelled to Manchester to meet Augustus Ullstein QC, the top barrister who forced the Government to perform a U-turn over the Shipman case.

Originally, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced there would only be an independent investigation into the Shipman affair.

But following an application for a judicial review into the Health Secretary's decision by Mr Ullstein, an Appeal Court judge ruled that the investigation should take the form of a public inquiry.

The Neale group's founder, Sheila Wright-Hogeland, from near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and group spokesman Graham Maloney had what was described as a "very productive" meeting with Mr Ullstein.

Mr Maloney said: "Mr Ullstein told us there was a strong possibility that we will be successful."

It is understood that the barrister has advised the Neale patient support group to consider carefully its options rather than rushing into an early application for a public inquiry.

Mr Neale, who lives near Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, was struck off last year after the General Medical Council found 34 out of 35 allegations of serious professional misconduct proved against him.

l The first civil suit for damages to be contested by Mr Neale is due to be heard at Leeds Crown Court today. The case is being brought by a former private patient from the Northallerton area.