A BROTHER and sister are waiting to have a defibrillator implanted following the deaths of their father and brother from what is believed to have been Long QT Syndrome, an irregularity of the heart beat pattern.

Noel Jolly, 29, of Hollins Grove, Darwen, and Anna , 20, of Warehouse Lane, Foulridge, face an anxious time to find out if they have the same ailment after their father Frank, 51, and brother Paul, 26, both collapsed and died suddenly.

Tests are currently being carried out by specialists in France. It will take nine months for the results to be returned to the family.

In the meantime cardiac specialists at Manchester Royal Infirmary have recommended they have the defibrillators implanted into their chests, which would detect irregularities in their heartbeats.

Long QT syndrome is rare and usually affects people with heart abnormalities. Because it can be hereditary a pathologist recommended the rest of the family be checked immediately.

Their mother, Julie Mallalieu, of Warehouse Lane, has welcomed the move to protect her two remaining children from what she believes caused the deaths of her husband and son.

She said: "It would pick up things like slow heart rhythms and although it's hard to say, it might have detected Paul and Frank's condition. There's no absolute proof but it might have helped them. At least everything is being done now by doctors to prevent the same thing happening to Anna and Noel."

An electro-cardiograph was used to check whether their heartbeats had a longer QT than most people, in other words, whether it took longer for the heart's electrical system to recharge after each beat.

The implanted defibrillator protects patients at risk from severe ventricular tachycardia -- a runaway heartbeat -- or can be implanted purely as a precautionary measure, as in Anna and Noel's case.

The defibrillator is much smaller than the traditional one used in hospitals to shock the heart back into action. It is roughly the size of a match box and is placed beneath the skin in the chest.

It requires a single electrode which is routed to the heart through a vein -- done without a major operation.

Through the electrode the tiny computer on-board the defibrillator constantly monitors the heartbeat. If it detects a problem it activates a built-in conventional pacemaker to stabilize the heart's rhythm.

Anna and Noel are coming to terms with having to have the defibrillators fitted following the birth of Anna's first child on Tuesday morning.

Noel is due to have his in a month but Anna will have to wait a little longer to allow her body to settle down after the birth.

Anna was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary to have a Caesarean section birth because of problems with her pelvis. She was also constantly monitored by cardiac specialists to check for any irregularities.

Julie added: "We are all looking to the future and delighted that Anna is safe and well and we have a beautiful, healthy grandson.

"We can't wait to have them home with us."