A HOSPITAL surgeon is visiting schools in the area to relay the dangers of smoking and drinking to young people.

Mr Stuart Clark, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Manchester Royal and Wigan Infirmaries, says if his talks prevent just one child developing mouth cancer or stopping smoking then they will have been worth it.

His first scheduled visit, which comes during the 10th annual national Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (November 14 to 21) was to Bedford High School.

In his talks Mr Clark will point out in detail exactly what can happen to young patients who develop this cancer.

Pupils he sees will learn that people who smoke and drink are more than 10 times likely to develop mouth cancer and those who smoke and drink heavily are 36 more times likely to develop it.

Mr Clark, who has around 30 new patients from this area every year, said it is a debilitating illness, which is as common as leukaemia, although many will not realise it.

Patients can need treatment from chemotherapy on their mouths to a complete jaw reconstruction which involves a 10 hour operation.

He said: "After going through the operations and the radiotherapy many people find their lives drastically altered."