Cancer statistics in London have been branded as “shocking” by Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas who joined nurses for an awareness campaign.

Spotting the early signs of the deadly disease can save lives, yet many people ignore abnormalities and avoid regular visit to their GPs.

A charity has now joined forces with a supermarket chain to tackle the problem by touring the country in a roadshow with a specialist nurses who are offering free advice and check-ups.

Mr Cruddas said: “I was very impressed with my visit to the Cancer Awareness Roadshow and the vitally important advice and information that it provides. It is shocking that around three people in London are diagnosed with cancer every hour.”

He added: “When cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is often simpler and more likely to be effective. I wholeheartedly support Cancer Research UK’s call to spot cancer as soon as possible. Early detection saves lives.”

The roadshow was at Morrisons in Wood Lane, Becontree Heath, last Friday.

It was organised by Cancer Research UK, with nurses on the bus to provide information to visitors on the link between lifestyle and cancer, the signs and symptoms of cancer, and the importance of screening.

Visitors took advantage of the free service, which includes talking to a specialist nurse in a private consultation room, and taking a Body Mass Index (BMI) test to find out whether their weight is within a healthy range.

n For more about the roadshow visit www.cancerawarenessroadshow.org.