LANCASHIRE patients will be first in the country to benefit from a new way to diagnose the recurrence of lung cancer.

The county is at the leading edge of cancer care after designing a 'finger clubbing' programme to be used in chest clinics at Preston and Chorley Hospitals.

The pioneering development by consultant Alec Burton and software deveoper Roger Wordsworth could benefit around 700 patients a year.

Finger clubbing is a thickening of the tissue at the base of the fingernail, which gives a clubbed appearance to the end of the finger.

The computer program can calculate the size and shape of a finger which can now be used to help doctors identify changes.

Mr Wordsworth, who designed the system, said: "Finger clubbing disappears after successful treatment of the underlying disease, but any recurrence may indicate a return of the disease. In the past clubbing has been used as an indicator for initial diagnosis, but it can also be useful in follow-up assessment.

"Lancashire and the North West will be the first to benefit from this much more precise technique. It will then be rolled out across the rest of the country."

Dr Burton said: "This is a great advance and will help us to effectively monitor our patients and help us to quickly identify lung cancer in those who are at risk having a recurrence of the disease."

The project recently received a highly commended award at the Brian Booth Oncology Research Prize competition which also awarded a grant to help carry out the research in memory of Brian Booth, former chair of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.