More than 500 people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier by a pioneering NHS programme.

The Lung Cancer Screening programme, which is now active across the whole North Cumbria and North East region, helps to save lives by identifying lung cancer at an earlier stage when it can be cured.

More than 180,000 people in the region have been invited for lung health checks, with a focus on individuals aged 55 to 74 with a history of smoking.

The Lung Cancer Screening programme is led by the Northern Cancer Alliance and North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Dr Liz Fuller, the Alliance's lung cancer screening lead, said: "If you get a letter for an NHS lung health check, please don't ignore it – that 15-minute appointment could save your life.

"Most of the cancers we find through these checks are in the earlier stages when it can still be cured.

"People are often understandably afraid, but treatments have changed a lot, and many more people are now getting back to their normal life after cancer treatment."

Dr Ruth Sharrock, the Alliance’s lung cancer lead, said: "If a friend or family member has been coughing for three weeks or more, it's best to encourage them to contact their GP practice.

"It’s probably nothing serious, but it could be cancer.

"Early diagnosis and treatment of cancer saves lives."

People who have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of the programme have also spoken of their experiences.

Margaret Bond, a 71 year-old business owner, got her invitation in June this year but wasn't sure about it at first.

She said: "I wasn't going to go – I thought 'I'm alright, no symptoms, no cough or anything'.

"I couldn't believe it when they said I had stage three cancer.

"Another few weeks and I'd have had my chips."