THE parents of North Yorkshire's first known vCJD victim have welcomed news of a test for the disease - but say the crucial challenge is still to find a cure.

Barry and Betty Hodgkinson, whose son, Adrian, died in 1997 of the human form of mad cow disease, spoke out after it emerged that experts believe they can now tell whether people are incubating the illness by monitoring their heartbeats.

"It's all well and good having a test, but it's a cure - or at least a treatment - that we really need," said Betty.

The Harrogate couple also condemned separate news that failures in slaughterhouse inspection procedures meant that meat had been allowed into the food chain last year without being tested for BSE.

An independent inquiry ordered by the Food Standards Agency found that there was poor training and confusion over regulations.

The Government has accepted the findings, saying it has already taken action over monitoring and auditing arrangements.

The Hodgkinsons, who have always believed that BSE-contaminated meat caused their son to contract variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease in 1996, said it was wrong that errors were still being made in ensuring people were not being put at risk.

"I wouldn't want anyone else to ever go through what we did," said Betty.

"I think it's because people have forgotten the consequences."

The new CJD test, which has been developed by researchers at Manchester Royal Infirmary, could be available for use by doctors next year.

The simple painless test looks out for a tell-tale "signature" heart beat pattern which is displayed by people with CJD. Doctors believe it could indicate if people are developing the illness up to five years before they experience symptoms.

Barry said the test could be useful for people who are thought to be at risk, perhaps because they received a blood transfusion which may have been contaminated. But he did not believe other people would want to know, as there is no cure for the illness yet available.

The couple have revealed how they had recently returned to Harrogate after moving to Hartlepool three years ago, partly in a bid to escape from the traumatic memories.

Updated: 10:28 Monday, October 18, 2004