A LEADING cancer charity has made one of its largest ever grants to fund a new researcher at Lancaster University.

The £265,000 award from The North West Cancer Research Fund paves the way for Dr Sarah Allinson to join the Lancaster cancer research team.

Her appointment is part of a five-year programme investigating the causes of cancer and effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The 32-year-old's research will look into how human cells repair damage that occurs to DNA.

Dr Allinson who has a PhD in bio-organic chemistry says DNA repair is a key area of cancer research.

Lancaster University professor of cancer biology Trevor McMillan says: "Sarah is an important appointment for Lancaster as she enhances our already strong programme of cancer research."

The North West Cancer Research Fund has been funding research at Lancaster for 10 years.