Record 1,100 men turn up for prostate screening in Bridgnorth - WATCH
More than 1,100 men queued around the block for an annual cancer screening event in Bridgnorth.
A record-breaking turnout made the testing event at the town's Castle Hall another worthwhile success.
Organisers said that at least 50 men are likely to learn they have prostate cancer as a result of the tests, in which they had their blood screened for antigens.
The Bridgnorth Lions have organised the event since 2009, with the number of attendees growing year on year.
Neil Hancock lives in the town and was one of the 1,132 who queued patiently before being checked out on Thursday evening.
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The 72-year-old said: “I think it’s brilliant and I have heard that it is one of the biggest of these types of events in the country.
“I think that’s really impressive for a little market town and it’s great that the Lions organise it.
“I got there just before 6pm and there were queues then, I was expecting to be there a while.
“But I was in and out within the hour, they have got it down to a military precision.
“I have done it in past years and I’ve seen it grow and grow.
“It is encouraging men who are maybe not the most proactive about their health to at least get themselves checked.
“Prostate cancer can be a bit of a sleeper where you aren’t aware of it, the blood screening is not a definitive test but it’s an indicator.”
Chris Aked of the Lions club said: “This was an astonishingly successful community event, with the number of men attending more than 200 higher than last year.
"More and more men are realising that this simple test, while not 100 per cent accurate, can be an indicator of the need for further investigation.
“It was a fantastic effort by the community. The blood tests were carried out mainly by the phlebotomists from our own Bridgnorth Hospital while local companies contributed towards our cost by sponsoring the event.”
Those who had their blood tested should get their results over the next few weeks, categorising the level of risk as green, amber or red.
Consultant urologist David Baxter-Smith said at least 50 of the men attending will have follow up appointments.
