ONE of the UK's leading cancer research charities has praised supporters in North Lancashire for generating more than £36,000 to fight the disease in the course of a year.

Officials of the North West Cancer Research Fund say that people have rallied to back fundraising branches in Lunesdale, Blackpool and Morecambe.

The NWCRF's head of marketing, Anne Jackson said the supporters had made a "terrific and much-needed contribution" to the battle to understand what caused the condition and develop new treatments for it.

She added: "We are fortunate in the North West to have some of the world's experts on the causes of many different types of cancer working to further research into the disease.

"We are also extremely lucky to have a compassionate and committed group of supporters willing to give their time, effort and money in order to allow such research to take place.

"Their contributions over the last 12 months have been nothing short of outstanding and we, as a charity are very grateful.

Mrs Jackson revealed that in the last 12 months the charity's Lunesdale branch had raised £24,000, while those in Blackpool and Morecambe had raised £8,000 and £4,200 respectively.

The money will be used to support various pioneering projects at the charity's three research units at Liverpool, Bangor and Lancaster universities.

The news comes as the NWCRF prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.

Since its foundation, the charity has awarded more than £28 million in research grants.

It also stands to benefit from the support of one of America's leading singer-songwriters. Beth Nielson Chapman, herself a cancer survivor, has pledged the NWCRF money from the sale of tickets for a concert at the Lakes Leisure Centre in Kendal next month.