The only nurse led stroke research unit in the UK has received £1.2m from the Department of Health to research new ways of assessing and managing urinary incontinence after a celebral event.

The money will be used by the University of Central Lancashires clinical practice research unit to coordinate the Indentifying Continence Options after Stroke (ICONS) project, which aims through research to increase the number of stroke survivors with urinary incontience to become continent again.

Lead researcher Caroline Watkins, a professor of stroke and older peoples care at the unit said, "ultimately this could improve patients lives significantly, most importantly because it could restore their dignity"