Nigel Thomas - who has dementia with Lewy bodies - and wife Helen (Image: Newcastle University)

A South Tyneside couple said life would have been "intolerable" without the support of an award-winning Newcastle University team which has "transformed" the understanding of a form of dementia. This comes as Newcastle University has won praise from the Prime Minister and the highest national honour available in the UK for universities.

The university has been awarded a prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further Education. This is in recognition of work supporting the diagnosis and care for those living with dementia with lewy bodies - which has been invaluable to Cleadon' s Nigel Thomas.

Nigel, 79, has the condition and said it had hit his confidence - and had a real im

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