A BID to block controversial European funding for medical research that could identify cures for illnesses such as Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's Disease has been defeated in the European Parliament.

And today East Lancashire Euro MP Chris Davies welcomed the result. He claims the research brings a glimmer of hope to millions of patients, many of them in the region.

The work involves stem cells taken from human embryos, donated by women undergoing IVF fertility treatment. New ethical guidelines to ensure that their use is carefully controlled, with results shared to avoid duplication, have been proposed by the European Commission.

Attempts by more than 200 MEPs to introduce restrictions that would curb the research were defeated in the European Parliament.

Liberal Democrat Chris Davies says that while the religious convictions of those who opposed the work had to be respected, he believes that the use of human embryos is often misunderstood.

"These are cells taken from microscopically small embryos which would otherwise be discarded. They are a by-product of fertility treatment for women who cannot otherwise have children, and never created solely for the purpose of research."

The Parkinson's Disease Society, which represents 120,000 people in the UK with the disease, lobbied hard to secure the result in the European Parliament. It says the research is vital for the development of new treatments. The result leaves each country within the European Union free to decide for themselves whether to allow the research to be carried out.