A SURGEON working at Worcestershire Breast Unit has hailed it as an 'amazing facility' as staff celebrate four years since it opened its doors.

Since opening, the unit has seen 19,943 women for screening as well as 10,000 Worcestershire women displaying symptoms of breast cancer.

Steven Thrush is a world renowned consultant breast surgeon who masterminded the original appeal to build the unit.

He said: “We have achieved so much since the Worcestershire Breast Unit opened and the charity is working to not only sustain that, but to grow and develop the services and support we offer every day.

11 jobs at risk as Worcester shop set to close

"Fundraising by the charity towards the recent funding of items such as a new breast MRI coil and four cutting-edge handheld ultrasound machines which allow flexibility in how we treat patients are just part of our pioneering approach.

"We have an amazing facility here in Worcester that really is one of the best in the United Kingdom.”

Eight hundred women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in Worcestershire.

The Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven (WBUH) charity, based at the unit, has also provided support for the women and men of Worcestershire with their breast care needs.

Since it opened, the Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven has supported and funded 638 Worcestershire women to receive Breast Cancer Haven therapies, with that number increasing year on year. WBUH aims to raise £200,000 a year to enable it to continue to provide emotional, physical and practical support at no cost.