A mobile information unit aimed at teaching people about the symptoms of cancer to promote early diagnosis has opened in Wrexham.

National charity Macmillan Cancer Relief have set up a unit where people can get confidential advice about the disease.

Information available

Health promotion Information about living with cancer Support groups and services contacts Macmillan services

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity in the UK and the charity says that four in 10 people will be diagnosed with the illness during their lifetime.

The unit will be in the town centre for three days before continuing its tour of Wales.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said it could be a life saving scheme: "It's really about reaching out beyond doctors surgeries to get people to think about the dangers of cancer and what to look out for to achieve early diagnosis.

"The Macmillan cancer relief awareness raising roadshow is about looking out for danger signs of cancer amongst the general population of Wrexham.

Ian Lucas has supported the scheme

"Early diagnosis obviously very often means earlier cure and easier treatment for doctors."

Macmillan Cancer Relief is a UK-wide charity which supports people living with the illness.

The mobile cancer information centre will provide information and support for people with cancer and their families.

Anyone can attend the unit without an appointment for confidential advice.

Alison Foster is a Macmillan specialist palliative care team leader in north east Wales.

She said the mobile units are extremely valuable.

"This initiative is a very good idea because what's very important when somebody's had a diagnosis of cancer is that often life seems uncertain and things seem unknown.

"It places a lot of uncertainty on things that people may have taken for granted before and I think that for people to have access to information is a good idea."

The scheme ran in England last year and saw more than 5,000 visitors use the centre.