A research project which hopes to develop a treatment for cystic fibrosis is under threat.

Scientists have spent the last ten years working on the revolutionary gene therapy treatment that they hope will allow thousands of sufferers to live longer.

But the project which funds the research, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, has a shortfall of £6m. If they do not find funds by the end of October, the research will have to be abandoned.

Lucy Kerr, five, has cystic fibrosis and it not expected to live beyond her late 30s even if she gets the lung transplant she will one day need.

This new treatment could double her life expectancy.

Her mother, Michelle, hopes enough donations will be made to the charity to allow a trial of the treatment to go head.

She said: "It was reading everything on the internet, all the negative things. The life expectancy is 25 years old.

"Every single day Lucy gets congested. She’s on antibiotics daily and different physiotherapy.

"To have this money, to have this trial and for it to work is life saving. Life expectancy of up to the age of 60 is just amazing."

June Ross from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust explained the effect the treatment could have.

She said: "Adults today would basically stay at the condition they are at so they wouldn’t get any worse. Their whole life would be better and they would live so much longer."