����.-��é�DzԲ�����

The 63-year-old has the terminal disease pulmonary fibrosis and attends a weekly drop-in session at St Leonard’s Hospice in York, where patients have been discussing the assisted dying bill over cups of tea.

Dr Simeon Sender-Galloway, palliative care consultant at St Leonard's Hospice, said staff respected the differing views of individual patients on the issue of assisted dying.

"We were in the midst of the chaos," says Chris Hammill, head teacher at St Leonard's Catholic School in Durham.

St Leonard's is usually oversubscribed for its 230-odd places, but next week only around 180 new Year 7s will come through its doors.

At St Leonard's, Mr Hammill says things are looking up.