A CENTRE dedicated to treating child cerebral palsy is attracting families from across the world to its North-East base.

Disabled youngsters from France, Italy, Israel and Australia are receiving pioneering treatment at The Lee Sykes Centre for Conductive Education, in Southwick, Sunderland, rather than heading to more well-known centres in Europe. Housed in a former nursery school building, the centre has developed an internationally-renowned reputation among parents of children with the condition.

Many are now prepared to travel thousands of miles to the region in the hope of giving their children a better quality of life.

Founded two years ago by Wearside father Syd Sykes, whose 14-year-old son, Lee, has cerebral palsy, the centre is the only one in Britain offering free conductive education.

The technique, developed at the world-famous Peto Institute, in Hungary, teaches children to improve their communication and lifestyle skills.

A pioneering new medicine from Russia has also been introduced at a cost of £1,400 per course.

Doctors in Eastern Europe claim the drug, based on natural amino acids, wakes up the brain.

Mr Sykes, who raised thousands of pounds to get the centre off the ground, said 58 children from the North-East and overseas were now benefiting from the expertise and treatment on offer.

He said: "Many of the parents from abroad have heard of us through the Internet, or even through word of mouth.

"We have children coming here from all over the world and it's nice to see the improvements in them.

"As a so-called expert, I probably wouldn't say the transformation was miraculous, but as a parent I would say it was miraculous.

"We have parents from other countries begging to come here, but they can't afford it, though we are working on that."

Mr Sykes added that Lee was preparing for an upcoming major operation to straighten his back and hip and put his dislocated left leg back into joint.

He said: "He's lost 85 per cent of his spasticity so he's going to have his operation done. He wouldn't be able to walk without it."

The centre can be contacted on 0191-516 9990