A BROTHER and sister are living on a knife edge as they wait to find out if they have the genetic disorder that is thought to have killed two members of their family.

Anna Jolly, 19, of Warehouse Lane, Foulridge, and her eldest brother Noel, 29, of Hollins Grove, Darwen, are both to have checks for long QT syndrome, an adult version of cot death.

Their father, Frank Jolly, 51, and brother, Paul Jolly, 26, both collapsed and died suddenly.

Coroners failed to find the exact causes of death and a coroner this week told the inquest into Paul's death that it could not be confirmed that he had long QT syndrome because a live tissue sample was required for analysis.

But a pathologist said his brother and sister and his children should be tested as a matter of urgency. Research has shown that if he had the disease, his brother had sister would have a 50 per cent chance of having it too.

Anna, who is two months pregnant with her first baby, was screened straight after Paul died in May but is to be tested again on September 18 so that doctors can be certain that she is not affected. Noel will also have the test soon.

Noel, is going on a two-week holiday abroad on Sunday, so he will be screened when he gets back, but at the moment the family are living on a knife edge hoping that doctors prove them to be free of the syndrome.

Noel, personnel recruitment manager for Chubb security based in Manchester, said: "We are both concerned about what the outcome will be when we go to the doctors, which we are naturally apprehensive about, although we are trying not to let it take over our lives.

"We have been worrying as well as managing grief for the past four months.

"At least if the doctors do find anything then we will be given a good chance because it can be treated effectively. It is just a shame that it wasn't picked up in Paul.

"Our lives have been turned upside down by all of this which is why we want to make other people aware of the dangers. My dad and Paul didn't have any symptoms of illness at all, which is why it is so scary, because you don't know who is walking around with this time bomb waiting to explode. When I was in the RAF we had medicals before we joined and when we left which I think should be made compulsory in high schools for children because it could end up saving thousands of lives."

Anna already suffers from a genetic disease in the core of her muscles that affects both of her legs, although the condition will never get any worse it will never get any better.

Anna said: "I am pregnant so I have to concentrate on keeping myself well and not getting myself under too much stress. I am now more concerned for my baby, but as soon as it is born I am going to have it checked. I suffer from a muscle disease that affects my legs slightly, which is one of the reasons that alarm bells are ringing because my baby could have more chance of having a genetic disease of some kind. Although the disease has never stopped me from doing anything that I have wanted to do."

Their mother Julie Mallalieu, 54, of Warehouse Lane Foulridge, wants to raise awareness of the syndrome and make it compulsory for schools to carry out regular health checks for pupils. She said: "I believe I have lost my husband and my son to this syndrome and I don't want anybody else to go through what I have done. I am very anxious because in the time that they are waiting to be screened they could suffer from the same things as Paul because it is such a quick and unexplained death, which is why I want them both to go to the doctor as soon as possible.

"It is about time that people knew about this and that schools took more responsibility, because it can affect children who do a lot of sport. It might only be a matter of time before somebody else's son or daughter is taken from them, which I am going to try to stop."