A YORKSHIRE charity today revealed plans to invest £6.5 million to improve cancer outcomes for patients across the region.

Yorkshire Cancer Research, a partner in the recent Bradford Telegraph & Argus Crocus Cancer Appeal, wants to improve cancer screening rates to increase the numbers of patients diagnosed as early as possible.

It is also focusing on lung cancer, the region's leading cause of cancer-related death, with about 4,500 people diagnosed with the disease every year, 67 per cent at a late stage when tumours may have grown or spread to other tissues or organs.

Organisations such as local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are being invited to apply for the funding in six key areas, including new ways to help people understand cancer signs and symptoms in deprived communities, increased participation in screening programmes for bowel, cervical, and breast cancer, and testing new tools to help GPs spot cancer earlier.

The investment marks the first stage of the charity’s new strategy to ensure 2,000 more people in the region survive cancer every year by 2025, with successful bids for the funding set to be announced in January 2017.

A spokesman for the NHS Bradford City and NHS Bradford Districts CCGs said: "We look forward to talking to Yorkshire Cancer Research about how part of this funding could be used to help us work together, with public health, to help improve screening rates in Bradford.

"We know that a combination of factors, including early diagnosis, fast-track treatment, and excellent support services, all things we have available locally, can increase people’s chances of surviving cancer.

"We continue to promote cancer awareness at every opportunity, and the Bradford City CCG is focusing on improving uptake of bowel and cervical screening.

"We are also working very closely with our colleagues in NHS England and local public health to improve uptake."