Baroness Denton, the former Junior Northern Ireland Minister, is recovering from a major operation which removed a brain tumour, it emerged yesterday.

She is well and ''talking to her friends'' after the surgery, which lasted several hours.

The Baroness was taken to London's Charing Cross Hospital earlier this week after doctors advised her to have the brain tumour removed. She is now waiting for results of medical tests but hopes to be released from hospital before Christmas.

''I am beautifully looked after and, following major surgery, I am now up talking to my friends on the telephone,'' Baroness Denton, 66, said.

She first found out about the tumour several weeks ago when she started having headaches. ''At first I dismissed it as stress,'' she said.

Baroness Denton, who was raised to the peerage by John Major in 1991, added that Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam had been a great source of support.

Ms Mowlam had similar surgery before the General Election but is now fully recovered.