A Sussex scientist has won more than £500,000 to study his controversial claims.

Professor John Hermon Taylor discovered bacteria which can lead to Crohn's Disease could be transmitted to humans from infected cows' milk earlier this year.

He will now look at risks posed by tap water following the cash hand-out.

His research will study the effect animal droppings being washed into waterways has on passing the bug, known as mycobacterium avium subspecies para-tuberculosis, into water supplies.

His work has been championed by Wadhurst-based Tim Page and his wife, Sarah. She suffered Crohn's for more than ten years and the couple are convinced her problems began after she started drinking large quantities of cow's milk during pregnancy.

They have set up a support group called the Chronic Crohn's Campaign to raise awareness about the painful bowel complaint.

They have asked such high-profile names as Sir Paul McCartney, who lives in Rye, to act as patrons.

Prof Hermon Taylor thanked the Pages and their supporters for the backing. He said: "They have done a terrific job and this next step is terribly important. We hope this research will tell us whether humans are picking up the bacteria through their tap water supplies. We have to be very careful because the last thing we want is to create a scare."

The grant has been awarded by the Medical Research Council. Work will be jointly carried out with a microbiologist in Cumbria.

In October, Prof Hermon Taylor, professor of surgery at St George's Hospital Medical School at the University of London, is due to hear whether the medical charity Action Research can provide funds to help test a possible vaccine for Crohn's.

He has already done work to select the components of the vaccine and now wants to test it in animals to see if it could be approved for humans.

Mr Page said: "We are thrilled funding has been found to look at links with water. Crohn's is a very serious health issue not enough people know about.

"We will keep fighting to raise awareness."