AN MP today called for the lessons of the CJD fiasco to be learned and never forgotten -- to prevent any repeat of the suffering endured by an East Lancashire family.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope's appeal comes a day after it was announced that many more victims than first thought could have died from the human version of Mad Cow Disease, with people over 30 just as likely to fall foul of the disease.

A total of 50 people, all aged 30 and under, are believed to have died from CJD, including Accrington mother-of-two Anita Bradshaw.

Anita, of Stanley Street, died in August after fighting the illness for two years. During that time, her family watched her steadily deteriorate, never certain of what was wrong with her. Her death was one of the last suspected cases of CJD before the damning Phillips Report, presented to Parliament last week, blasted senior Conservative politicians and civil servants for playing down the risks of CJD and failing to stop infected meat from entering the food chain.

Dr Stephen Dealler, a consultant microbiologist formerly based at Burnley Hospital, and who worked to reveal the truth about BSE, today said he felt vindicated by the report and called for the government to test the tallow derivatives used in skin care creams to rule them out as a possible cause of CJD.

Mr Pope (pictured) said: "There are some very important lessons to be learnt from what has happened. "This is not an issue to score political points over. It is one where the current Government should learn from and make sure those lessons are learnt and never forgotten.

"Many families, including one in my constituency, have suffered at the hands of new variant CJD and we must make sure no family is put through that again.

"Being open and honest at all times is essential."

When the inquest into Anita's death was opened in August, Coroner Michael Singleton was told that, while her cause of death was still being investigated, it was believed to be CJD.

A full inquest into the former Vitafoam quality controller's death will be held in December.

She died in Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

Her husband Andrew said: "We have been told about the report and have our opinions on it. We are now trying to get on with our lives.

"She was very ill and we won't know exactly what went on until the inquest."

Anita was described by friends as a music-lover who enjoyed swimming and spending time with her family.

She fell ill after giving birth to her youngest child, Reece, who is now two. Her daughter Rebecca is seven.