A new campaign is to be launched in Wolverhampton aimed at warning people about the early signs of lung cancer.

Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust has been awarded £100,000 by the Department of Health for its campaign to improve life expectancy and reduce health inequalities by focusing on the early identification of lung cancer within the most disadvantaged and high-risk areas of the city.

The campaign, to be launched in January, aims to encourage people to get checked out by their GP.

The local scheme is part of a £9 million Department of Health initiative to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the three big killers - breast, bowel and lung cancer - in 59 areas of the UK.

Wolverhampton City PCT will target areas of the city where there are high numbers of cases or deaths from lung cancer and encourage people - particularly men aged over 50 from the most deprived areas -  to visit their GP and get checked out if they have had a cough lasting for more than three weeks.

Dr Adrian Phillips, director of public health for Wolverhampton, said: “The earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the outlook and we are therefore delighted to have been selected by the Department of Health to run this local project.

“The symptoms of lung cancer can include a cough lasting for more than three weeks and we particularly want to encourage people who may have a persistent cough to visit their GP and get it checked out as soon as possible.”

Other symptoms of lung cancer can include unexpected weight loss, coughing up blood and shortness of breath.