Marks & Spencer has installed breast cancer signs and symptoms signage in its fitting rooms to after a Burnley colleague’s family history came to light.

Megan Dunham, a bra fitter in the Burnley store, was one of the colleagues who championed the change following her family’s experience of the disease.

After Megan's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, she began encouraging her to regularly check herself and ultimately inspired Megan to submit the idea to the retailer’s suggestion scheme ‘Straight to Stuart’.

As a result, the company is rolling out signage to more than 1,500 fitting rooms across the country with guidance on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer to raise awareness among its 22 million customers.

Megan said: “I’m so pleased that our idea to add this crucial guidance to our fitting rooms is being rolled out.

"Having a family history of this terrible disease, I know just how devastating it can be.

"Recognising the signs and symptoms of breast cancer early can make all the difference.

“I know that changes to your breasts, which can be one of the signs, are even more easily noticed when you’re thinking about new bras, so hopefully having the signs up in our change rooms at Burnley will inspire more customers to check themselves next time they come in for a BraFit.”

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15 per cent of all cancer cases in females and males combined, so the move is designed to aid early detection and encourage more people to regularly touch, look and check their breasts.

Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, but the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment being successful.

Alongside its efforts to raise awareness, in over 20 years, M&S has raised £33m for Breast Cancer Now through sales of post-surgery bras, swimwear and more.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: “We’re delighted to be building on our partnership with M&S by raising vital awareness of breast cancer signs and symptoms with people in M&S changing rooms across the country.

“We know that the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment being successful.

“By arming millions of people across the UK with this health information, we’ll help ensure more people who have breast cancer get diagnosed sooner, so they have a better chance of successful treatment.

“A huge thank you to the M&S colleagues who submitted this idea to Stuart and to M&S for launching this vital campaign.”