A FAMILY whose lives have been blighted by so called sudden-death syndrome is campaigning for a vital piece of equipment which could save others.

Julie Mallalieubelieves her first husband Frank Jolly, 51, and son Paul Jolly, 26, -- who died years apart -- died as a result of long QT syndrome, an adult version of cot death. Both collapsed and died suddenly.

Coroners failed to find the exact cause of death and an inquest held last month said the precise reason for Paul's death could not be established as a live tissue sample was not taken for analysis.

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. Julie, who has now remarried, is now pledging to raise enough money to install a health monitor in a local health centre. The piece of equipment would cost £3,200 and is sophisticated enough to detect heart irregularities.

The portable echocardiogram or 'holter monitor' is strapped to a patient's chest for a period of 24 hours to record all heart sounds. At the end of the 24 hours, the tape is fed into a computer which then analyses the recording.

Last week her son Noel, 29, who lives in Hollins Grove, Darwen, had a heart scan at Lark Hill Medical Centre, in Blackburn. His sister 19-year-old Anna, of Warehouse Lane, Foulridge, who is three-months pregnant, was tested after Paul died in May and is due to be screened again later this month, as will Julie.

Julie 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."

Julie, also of Warehouse Lane, Foulridge, said: "It's not that easy to pick up heart arrhythmias in a normal scan so it will have to be checked again. But at the moment everything seems fine and the early signs are good. We are all a bit relieved but we can't breathe a full sigh of relief. Until we are given the all clear it will always be at the back of our minds."