BURNLEY MP Julie Cooper has backed a campaign to boost awareness of the importance and availability of breast cancer screening.

She has also joined charity Breast Cancer Now in calling for more cash for the service.

The Labour health spokeswoman said: "Only 68.5 per cent of women in East Lancashire attend breast screening, below the national average. The earlier a cancer is diagnosed the higher the likelihood it can be treated.

"It kills 70 to 100 women each year in East Lancashire, above the national average.

"Many women also live with secondary breast cancer and often experience delays in diagnosis and struggle to access specialist support to manage the physical and emotional impacts of the disease.

“I was delighted to meet up with representatives from Breast Cancer Now. The charity aims through helping to fund research and support to ensure that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer survives.”

Breast Cancer is the single biggest cause of death of women in the UK. 55,000 women and 350 men are diagnosed each year in the UK.

Mrs Cooper urged women to ask their GP about screening services locally.

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and 18th October is Wear it Pink day when groups are encouraged to organise fundraising events. Last year the people of Burnley and Padiham raised £3,252.04

Mrs Cooper also asked that groups organising events should contact her office on Julie.cooper.mp@parliament.uk and she will will help to promote and attend events where possible