BOLTON MP Dr Brian Iddon has been called to give evidence at the inquiry into how thousands of haemophiliacs were contaminated with Hepatitis C and HIV.

The Bolton South-east MP, who is vice-chairman of the all party group for Hepatitis C, has vowed to call for early testing of people who could be at risk of having either of the deadly conditions.

Dr Iddon said: "I want to tell the inquiry that this is a time bomb waiting to explode. There aren't enough livers to keep up with all the transplants that will be needed.

"We need to pave the way for voluntary early diagnosis, because people are unaware they could be spreading it, especially those who were given contaminated blood supplies."

More than 1,500 people have died or are terminally ill as a result of the "worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS" which happened in the 1970s.

David Fielding, a father-of-three, from Darley Avenue, Farnworth, contracted Hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood.

He was just days from death when he received a liver transplant, which has also cured his haemophilia.

But his brother, Brian, was not so lucky and died from HIV in 1990 after he contracted the virus via the same contaminated blood products.

Mr Fielding, aged 51, is calling for all evidence to be placed in front of the inquiry.

He said: "How can people move on if they think that all the facts haven't been laid bare."