A GRIEVING widow returned from Cyprus to be greeted with joyous news to blow away the usual post-holiday blues. Audrey Helme, of Corringham Road, Morecambe, touched down last night at Manchester Airport (Wednesday) from a two week holiday to learn her laborious campaign had reached new heights. Mrs Helme's late husband Norman campaigned for 18 months to get a special form of heart therapy, which transformed his life, available on the NHS after being refused by Morecambe Health Authority.

Although Mr Helme died last October from a burst blood vessel aged 62, the European Commission has just taken up his case following pressure from Lancaster's Euro MP, Tony Cunningham.

"She'll be over the moon," declared John Ellis, a neighbour for 20 years. "This is just what Audrey wanted. She's a real fighter who'd never give in.

"It was disgraceful the way Norman was treated. He had to pay out of his own pocket after years of paying tax.

"Chelation should be available to everyone on the NHS."

Chelation, which involves pumping vital vitamins straight into the heart, gave Mr Hale, who had a history of heart disease, a new lease of life.

He was incensed he had to receive treatment at a private clinic 60 miles away.

Even though 25 other NHS authorities funded chelation, Morecambe remained unconvinced.

Health authority spokesman Allan Muirhead dismissed the benefits of the the therapy.

"There was no evidence to show that effective clinical improvements could be gained through it," he claimed. "We felt it would not be right to treat patients in this way as they would lose too much calcium."

The EC have now agreed to fully investigate the potential benefits of chelation.

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