Brighton and Hove Albion boss Gus Poyet is backing a new lung cancer awareness campaign.

The drive is being led by the club’s charity, Albion in the Community, in partnership with the NHS.

The aim is to raise awareness of the symptoms of the condition so more people are diagnosed sooner.

The key symptom is a persistent cough that lasts for three weeks or more.

Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer, largely because two-thirds of people are diagnosed at a late stage.

However, finding the cancer early makes it more treatable.

About 140 people are diagnosed with the illness every year in Brighton and Hove, and 120 die.

Poyet, who lost his father and grandmother to cancer, has already played a key role in previous cancer awareness campaigns led by the charity and NHS Brighton and Hove.

He said: “I know what it is like to lose someone close through cancer, |so this campaign is really important to me.

“We know that people have a much greater chance of surviving any |cancer if they are diagnosed early but with lung cancer the statistics show that people are less aware of the symptoms and leave it too late to see their GP about it.”

Brighton GP Xavier Nalletamby said: “The message we want to get across is quite simple really.

“If you have been coughing for three weeks or more then you should talk to your GP, especially if you are over 55.

“It may be nothing serious, but it is better to be safe.”

A team of Albion in the Community volunteers will be taking part in a wide range of awareness raising activities at events in the city this summer.