Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant diagnosed with cancer

Mr Fabricant, aged 64, revealed today that doctors confirmed he had skin cancer at Queen's Hospital in Burton.

In a message to his 19,000 Twitter followers, he said it had been 'probably caught in time'.

He said: "I had various bits removed so walking very oddly. The staff at Queen's are excellent and thoroughly professional. Well done NHS.

"Thanks for all the get well messages. Apart from the stitches I feel fine. And as Maggie said: 'We fight on. We fight to win!'. Only she lost.

"That'll teach me to be a sun worshipper. If you're like me, get your moles checked out."

Mr Fabricant was first elected to the House of Commons in 1992 when he won the now defunct-Mid Staffordshire constituency.

Since 1997 he has been the MP for Lichfield and is defending a 17,683 vote majority.