A MASSIVE £500,000 grant to research alternative ways of treating poor blood circulation has been awarded to Worcestershire Health Authority.

The money will be used to investigate how exercise could replace surgery - and if the theory is proved, the procedure will be adopted throughout the NHS.

In Worcestershire alone, 100 people a year go under the surgeons knife to ease the condition called Intermittent Claudication which is caused by a blockage in an artery which creates severe muscle pain in the legs.

"This is the most significant research grant this county has ever seen," said Professor Brian McCloskey who will lead the research team, which is a joint project with University College Worcester. "We were successful in getting a grant because we brought together a unique team and because the new hospital will be a centre of excellence for vascular surgery."

The four-year research programme, funded by the Department of Health, will start at the beginning of 2002 when 400 patients will be invited to take part in the trials.

"A third will be given an exercise programme to follow, a third given the operation and another third will be given advice, such as stopping smoking, and we will compare the results," said Professor McCloskey.

"Each year, we operate on about 100 patients to unblock an artery so if the exercise programme proves a better alternative it will save the NHS time and money.

"Poor blood circulation tends to be caused by a lack of exercise or smoking and can be potentially dangerous as it can lead to gangrene or even amputation of the leg."

Dick Bryan, vice-principal of University College Worcester, said this was another "milestone" in the development of Worcester's university.

"It's good to see UCW's recognised expertise in health and exercise sciences contributing to such a major national project," he added.