A BRAIN tumour has left Preston pensioner Frank Creeney brain damaged. The tumour was successfully removed, but he was left in a 'waking coma' and lost virtually all his powers of speech.

Frank was sent home from hospital with little hope for the future.

But six years on, although he's still confined to a wheelchair, Frank, 69, is almost back to his old self and chats away for hours.

And it's all thanks to his wife Marie who has now set up the Lancashire Head Injury Association from her home in Longton and along with a group of carers wants to establish a unit for people with severe head injuries.

She said: "There are no resources in Lancashire for people suffering from traumatic brain injury. I've seen people in their 20s go into nursing homes as there's nowhere for them to go."

The group wants the unit to be based in Preston, to be of charity status, and purely for the people of Lancashire.

More than 50 people, including members of the public and carers, attended a meeting County Hall on Monday to discuss the plans with Marie and Dr Krystyna Walton, consultant physician in rehabilitative medicine. Three solicitors offered their service free of charge and financial consultant Nick Harris said he'd advise them on managing money.

Anyone who can help with fund-raising, or offer a room for the group to meet or an answer machine can contact Marie on 611892. (R/7588)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.