WHEN Hampshire MEP Roy Perry was asked to tour a newly-refurbished care home in Netley, he knew the emotions surrounding the death of his identical twin were waiting for him.

It was there at Netley Waterside House, in Netley Abbey, that his brother, Alan, died almost a decade ago while battling a rare brain disease.

While he had donated money to the Winged Fellowship's home each year, he said he had not been back since he lost Alan in 1992.

However, Mr Perry, who lives in West Wellow, took up the offer to see the £1.25million that had been spent on renovating the respite care home.

"Anybody who's a twin will know how close the bond is and therefore to go back was, in fact, very moving and equally I was certain that he couldn't have been in a better place - he was very happy," he said. "I will remember back in 1992 that I asked my twin to come and stay with us while his wife took a much-deserved and needed short holiday with friends. But he said no.

"The great advantage of Netley Waterside was it had all the equipment and trained staff to give expert care. I think he didn't trust me helping him in and out of the bath. But I will always be grateful to the staff and helpers at Netley Waterside - as indeed is my sister-in-law.

"They have my utter admiration."

Mr Perry said his brother died just three months before their 50th birthday.

"In his mid to late forties, Alan contracted a rare disease, Ataxia Nervosa - related to Friedrich's Ataxia - which affects the ability of the brain to control muscle movement," he said. "Very little is known about it. It was the same disease that Glyn Worsnip of That's Life had."

The head of care and deputy manager at Netley Waterside House, Sharon Griffin, said the £1.25 million had been spent putting ensuite facilities into the 22 bedrooms and building a block for residential volunteers.