THE chief officer of a cancer charity is stepping down.

Sue Thompson, the chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation is leaving at the end of May to take early retirement.

The 59-year-old has been at the helm of the charity since its launch 22 years ago.

She was praised for growing the foundation's fundraising to income £1.2 million annually in that time.

The charity has contributed towards the establishment of cancer units in Barrow and south Cumbria and funded research projects.