Coronation Street stars take over Manchester Piccadilly tannoy in breast cancer campaign

Coronation Street stars Sally Dynevor and Sue Cleaver have been getting rail passengers on board their campaign to prevent breast cancer.

The actors' voices boomed out the Manchester Piccadilly Station speakers to educate the public, saying that six people are diagnosed with breast cancer every hour.

Survivors staged a "flashmob" at the station urging everyone to "check your boobies".

The pair are working with charity Prevent Breast Cancer to promote the message 'See it, Feel it, Sort it'.

Sally Dynevor, best known for playing Sally Metcalfe on the cobbles of Coronation Street, was treated for breast cancer fourteen years ago.

She says she is still affected by the shock of the diagnosis and the tough treatment and urges everyone to see a doctor if anything looks or feels wrong.

Sally said: “Being breast aware is so vitally important for us as women. Breast cancer affects over 55,000 women every year and that number keeps rising.

"That’s why it’s so important that we all make the time to check our breasts and know what’s normal for us. I hope these announcements will remind women to check themselves and, who knows, they might even save a life.”

Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, began supporting the charity after hearing about it from Sally.

She said: “We all know someone who’s been impacted by breast cancer.

"The numbers are frightening – it’s the most common cancer in the UK with six people diagnosed every hour on average.

"It’s so important to be breast aware and I’d like to think that these announcements can help remind women to check their breasts regularly.”

Nikki Barraclough, CEO of Prevent Breast Cancer, said: “We want to speak to people to understand more clearly what they know about breast cancer and how they would want to learn more.

"Only by understanding this more clearly can we develop truly impactful education campaigns that will help reach more people and ideally at a younger age."

“Breast cancer is the biggest cause of death among women aged 35 to 49. That makes it vitally important that younger women are aware of the signs, symptoms, risk factors and causes of breast cancer so that they can take steps to protect themselves.”

Scott Green from Network Rail said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Prevent Breast Cancer with this important campaign.

"This is a light-hearted campaign with a serious message at its heart, and I hope that these announcements help remind women to check themselves regularly.”

Prevent Breast Cancer is headquartered at the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, the largest purpose-built breast care centre in Europe.

It's recently launched fundraising plans to extend it further with a National Breast Imaging Academy which will train around 50 new breast imaging specialists and see up to 13,000 more women every year. Trustee Eamonn O'Neal says it will provide vital training and boost the workforce.

Visit preventbreastcancer.org.uk to find out more. The survey is available here.