AN EAST Lancashire surgeon who pioneered a new technique to remove tonsils is to share his expertise on a live webcast transmission.

Michael Timms, a consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, who works in hospitals across Blackburn and Burnley, developed the method of tonsillectomy after seeing the technology used to treat snorers at a meeting in Rome.

He started using the method in March 2000, and has since given lectures on the procedure across the world.

But next month he will take his teaching a step further when he performs an operation, to be broadcast live on the internet.

This will be the first time the operation has been shown in this way in the UK, although a webcast was previously set up in America.

The treatment is carried out using a hand-held disposable wand, which is controlled by the surgeon using foot switches. It uses a cold saline solution which dissolves and sucks away the tonsil tissue at low temperatures.

Traditional surgery cuts and pulls away the tonsils with scissors or a knife, then seals the blood vessels using temperatures of around 300 degrees which can burn other parts of the throat too.

But, because the new method causes very little bleeding, there is no need to cauterise the surrounding area, so there is less pain following the operation.

Joanne Coppock, whose son Brandon, seven, underwent the procedure last year, said: "They say this new method is much less painful and Brandon had a brilliant recovery.

"He was discharged the same day and was eating toast the next day.

"A friend of mine had hers removed a few years ago and said it was very painful afterwards. You used to have to have jelly and ice-cream afterwards, but it's just not like that now."

Joanne, 31, of Lindsay Park, Worsthorne, added: "I would be interested to watch the operation on the internet now to see what was actually done."

Mr Timms, who has used the procedure for more than 1,500 tonsillectomies, said: "I'm excited about the chance to share this with so many of my colleagues.

"And it will hopefully help to overcome scepticism about the procedure.

"It is an attempt to educate a wide number of surgeons who can ask questions as we go along."