A VICAR taking part in a breast cancer study is appealing for other women to sign up in a bid to save future generations.

Debby Plummer, the lecturer at Bolton Parish Church, has been taking part in trials at the Royal Bolton Hospital for the past 12 months.

Bolton is one of just five hospitals in the North-west to be selected for the international trial, which was launched last year.

Researchers were hoping to recruit 150 suitable women to take part in the first 12 months. But only 31 women are currently taking part in the trial, known as IBIS-11, which lasts for 10 years.

Mrs Plummer's mother died from breast cancer, and her sister has recently battled the disease.

She said: "This is such an important study because breast cancer affects so many women, and after what has happened to my family I wanted to do all I could to help.

"It is also reassuring to be monitored so closely, because obviously women taking part in this study will be checked more regularly."

Mrs Plummer's mum Nancy Elliot died of breast cancer three years ago, aged 82, despite having a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Carry, Mrs Plummer's sister, was successfully treated for the disease after being diagnosed at the age of 51, shortly before her mother died.

Mrs Plummer, who has one son, said: "I want to do all I can to protect my niece and her generation, and by taking part in this trial I feel I am involved in something important for them."

Since the study was launched, 75 women have had interviews with researchers, but 44 of them had to be rejected because they did not meet the strict criteria for the trial, which is being funded by Cancer Research UK.

It is hoped the drug being tested, anastrozole, could drastically reduce the chance of breast cancer developing in women who are at high risk.

Anastrozole is already used to prevent breast cancer returning in women who have had the disease, but has never been used to prevent the disease developing.

For more information about the trial, visit www.ibis-trials.org or www.cancerhelp.org.uk write to the Oncology Research Team, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton, or phone 01204 390445 and leave a message.