BRIDPORT is showing support for pancreatic cancer awareness month by turning the clock tower at the town hall purple during November.

Lynda Pain from Dorset charity Pan Pals, asked Bridport Town Council if the clock tower could join the national 'Purple Lights for Hope' event this month.

Pan Pals have lit up buildings across the county as part of the national campaign.

She said: "We wanted to show our support for pancreatic cancer awareness month.

"It is a national campaign to light up iconic buildings and we're very glad that we have been able to do it in Dorset.

"By raising awareness, people will maybe think about the possibility of having pancreatic cancer.

"More people die from pancreatic cancer than breast cancer, because the survival rate is so poor and it hasn't really changed for 40 years. It is a very difficult cancer to tackle."

Bridport town surveyor Daryl Chambers said turning the clock purple was 'a no-brainer' and he expects other groups to approach the council for future events.

Mr Chambers said: "All we needed to do was to cover the faces with purple film, so it didn't take an awful lot on our part.

"We've already had a lot of feedback and it's gone mad on Twitter. People seemed to initially think we had done something for Halloween but we were very happy to support awareness for pancreatic cancer.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we light up the tower for other things in the future.

It's just a really good idea, and for me it was a no-brainer to support it. Cancer affects everybody in some way, so the least we can do is give the campaign some support."

National charity Pancreatic Cancer UK has thanked the town for showing awareness of the disease throughout November.

Alex Ford, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK said: “Purple Lights for Hope presents a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

"One person is diagnosed with the disease in the UK every hour, and the disease has the lowest survival rate of all the 21 common cancers, so it really is crucial that we all find out more about it.

“On behalf of everyone at Pancreatic Cancer UK, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in lighting up the clock tower in Bridport. Their fantastic support will help us to spread the word about pancreatic cancer, as well as a vital message of hope to everyone affected by the disease.”

For more information on Pan Pals, please call Lynda Pain on 01305 267185.