EARLY retirees enjoying long holidays in the sun are upping the number of skin cancers currently being treated in Bradford, it has emerged.

Dermatology experts in the city said they were seeing an increase in the number of older patients including many people who retired in their 50s, holidaying for six months of the year in sunspots such as Spain's Costa Del Sol.

Professor Andrew Wright, a consultant at St Luke's Hospital, said: "People need to take more care of their skin now because figures show we are living longer.

"I think we will be dealing with a significant health problem in about 20 to 25 years with people who are otherwise fit and healthy but have outlived their skin - it's a ticking timebomb."

Prof Wright said St Luke's dermatology department was already seeing increased numbers of older people with skin cancer and added: "A lot of them are people now who took early retirement in their 50s and bought a place in Malalga to stay six months of the year."

Professor Wright , who is a professor of dermatology at the University of Bradford, said he was particularly talking about the types of skin cancer caused by the amount of sun a person is exposed to in their lifetime.

"Half of Australians get skin cancer. The longer you live it's likely the more sun you will get so it's vital people take care of their skin now to help it last their life. There are other types of skin cancer caused by episodes of sunburn and where genetics can play a part."

Last month, data gathered by researchers at Public Health England showed the number of people admitted to hospital for skin cancer treatment in England rose by nearly a third in five years.

In 2007 there were 87,685 admissions, while in 2011 there were 123,808, according to the figures which excluded treatment in outpatient units or by GPs.

But Prof Wright said he felt those numbers were up probably because they reflected older patients being treated for skin cancer who were not fit for day care and had to be kept in hospital because no one was at home to help them recuperate after treatment.