ONE of the region's best known comedian's is delivering a deadly serious message in the hope of saving lives.

Funny man Roy "Chubby" Brown, who is fighting throat cancer, is to front a relaunch of the Look Ahead To Save Lives campaign to highlight head and neck cancers.

The comedian, who is staging a run of shows at Middlesbrough Town Hall next month, said: "This is a cause close to my heart as I was a patient myself recently when I was treated for throat cancer.

"I am now well on the way to recovery and I would like to thank all the staff who helped to look after me during my treatment.'

"I look forward to helping to promote this vital campaign aimed at encouraging earlier treatment and saving lives and will be paying North Riding Infirmary, one of the hospitals where I was treated, a visit.''

Richard Wight, a head and neck surgeon at North Riding Infirmary in Middlesbrough, said: "Nearly 7,500 people will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer this year in the United Kingdom and Teesside has a particularly high incidence.

"Sadly for many, they present very late to their GP having been aware of symptoms for a considerable length of time.''

He added: "Our aim, with the continuing Look Ahead campaign is to encourage people to seek help earlier as well as working with our health promotion colleagues to encourage people to quit smoking."

Consultant surgeon Colin Edge said: "The risk of cancers in the ear, nose, mouth, throat, jaw, windpipe, voice box and gullet all increase with age but as with many cancers, the survival rate dramatically increases the earlier the disease is diagnosed."