A scientist is on the threshold of a major discovery which could save thousands of women's lives - thanks to the Bolton Evening News-backed Busting Breast Cancer Appeal.

Manchester scientist Dr Rob Clarke has identified what he believes is the key to why some women are more susceptible to breast cancer than others.

And he has praised readers of the Evening News for helping to fund his groundbreaking studies.

Dr Clarke compared tissue, donated by women at risk but who had not developed cancer, to tissue samples of those women who were deemed "a normal" risk, and found there was a marked difference.

He said: "It is by no means a cure and we are still a long way off. But this is a very big positive. We have found the key that could unlock the door.

"It is a very exciting time in research, and it is thanks to the Bolton Busting Breast Cancer Appeal that we can now go on to develop our ideas.

"In our research we have discovered there is a difference in the normal tissue of those at high risk of breast cancer compared to those at normal risk.

"This may be important determining why there is a risk and might mean we can find ways of treating those at risk specifically to prevent the disease so they won't have to go through surgery to remove tissue. Instead, they could be given some other kind of treatment."