TREATMENT for eye cancer currently carried out at Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, will eventually move to Daresbury, and will be greatly improved. Treatment for cancers in other parts of the body also will be set up there.

Patients will be treated on a day basis and where necessary accommodated at other hospitals in the area.

Developments on this front are likely to happen in about three years.

Dr Jim Shaw, director of research and development at Clatterbridge, said the hospital currently produces radioactive isotopes for Christie's Hospital. These are used in nuclear medicine for imaging, for cancer diagnosis. This service will also move to Daresbury.

The Proton Cyclotron will help researchers to build on work already underway at Clatterbridge and at other hospitals and universities.

Professor Maggie Pearson, director of public health with the NHS Executive North West will be involved with feasibility work on the project. She said "These are really exciting developments for the north west region and for the NHS. The announcement will give a significant boost to research into the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer."