RE your report about inter-species embryo work (Echo, Sept 5). I am appalled and disgusted that the fertility regulator is prepared to give North-East scientists permission to create human-animal embryos for research.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) was set up to prevent these kinds of experiments from being carried out because they are unethical and immoral.

The HFEA has betrayed and reneged on what it was originally set up to do. It is moving the goalposts to suit its own ends and that of the scientists under the pretext that it is for the good of the public as it will create a plentiful supply of stem cells for studies into new treatments.

To say it will pave the way for therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is a smokescreen.

As for the HFEA saying that the public was mostly "at ease" with the proposals, that is a downright lie.

The public is appalled at what is proposed.

Research can be carried out on human adult stem cells for research purposes without resorting to creating human-animal embryos.

Mrs P Springer, Hartlepool.