MILLIONS of asthma sufferers will benefit from a multi-million-pound state-of-the-art laboratory which opened yesterday at Southampton General Hospital.

The hospital is already a world leader in pioneering research into asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the new laboratory, officially opened by the AAIR charity, will ensure the city remains among the top research centres.

The department is home to 250 experts in the field and their advancements could potentially benefit the millions of people worldwide who suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Roger Brooke, a businessman who donated £750,000 towards the laboratory, said: "I was inspired to donate when I became aware of the growing menace of asthma and allergic diseases.

"I thought this is a fantastic cause for me to support. The team is making fantastic progress, but of course it needs more money to ensure it continues to find more new treatments and, hopefully, one day a cure for asthma and allergies."