The granddaughter of a former Cromer nurse is calling for more awareness of womb cancer symptoms after her 'nana' was diagnosed earlier this year.

Josephine Bentley said she was still in shock after discovering her 64-year-old grandmother Beryl Bentley had the disease and described her as 'lucky' for spotting the symptoms early.

Mrs Bentley, of Alfred Road, was first diagnosed in January after suffering from post-menopausal bleeding. As a former nurse at Cromer Hospital she was aware of its seriousness and visited her GP the next day.

Two weeks later she was assessed by a team at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and had an ultrasound scan.

After a diagnosis of womb cancer it was decided she needed surgery and she underwent a hysterectomy.

'From when I went to see the GP to having the operation it took nine weeks,' she said.

'It's important for women to know that although this is cancer, it's a cancer that can be quite curable if discovered early as the womb is a self-contained area and can be removed.

'They say you go through the emotions but I was just worried about how I would tell my family.'

At the beginning of this month Mrs Bentley was given the good news that the operation had been successful and that the cancer had been removed and did not spread outside of the womb.

Aiming to raise awareness after her grandmother's illness, 22-year-old yacht electrician Miss Bentley said there was not enough information warning women about womb cancer.

'If it hadn't been spotted at such an early stage the outcome could have been very different.

'I believe we have been extremely lucky,' she said.

'Many cases of womb cancer can be detected at an early stage as symptoms start very soon, but unlike my nana many women ignore important signs and presume things are normal.

'More worryingly is that womb cancer is most common in elderly women who may not have the information readily available to them via internet for example.'

As part of on-going care Mrs Bentley will be undergoing a course of radiotherapy at the N&N.

She added: 'If you're unsure just go and see your GP as soon as you can. Don't be frightened.'