A total of 10,000 snowdrops, to be planted on both sides of the Tyne, will be a lasting reminder of all those who have succumbed to the asbestos-linked cancer mesothelioma.

The first snowdrops will be planted tomorrow in Saltwell Park, Gateshead, followed by the Sir GB Memorial Hunter Hospital, Wallsend, on October 31.

A third planting ceremony will be held at the Lawe Top roundabout, in Lawe Road, South Shields, on Monday, November 3, at 11am.

The memorial event has been organised by South Tyneside, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils, in partnership with The Snowdrop Fund, created by the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund (MKMRF).

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Alex Donaldson, said: "Mesothelioma is a devastating illness that has touched the lives of many people in South Tyneside.

"It is so important that we remember those who have lost their lives to this disease, and support efforts to fund the vital research going on with the aim of finding a cure.

"Planting the snowdrops at the Lawe Top is an effective way of contributing towards these aims, and will help to keep this issue in the public eye.

"The Lawe Top is a prominent location, overlooking our beautiful coastline, and the snowdrops will be a welcome addition there."

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer, which can lie dormant in the lungs for up to 40 years.

The Snowdrop Fund was launched in February to allow families across the UK to establish a tribute charity as a lasting legacy for vital research into mesothelioma.

Money from the fund will be injected into the MKMRF, which has already raised more than £400,000 for research into the disease.

Chris Knighton, founder of the MKMRF, said: "By planting these snowdrops on both sides of the Tyne, we hope to commemorate all those who died from mesothelioma.

"When the bulbs spring in January, they will remind people of the legacy of asbestos, but will also give hope that one day we will find a cure for this terrible disease."