EVESHAM'S Almonry museum was bathed in a purple glow last week to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

November13 was Pancreatic Cancer Day and the illuminating event was the work of Evesham widow Sandra Francis who has been raising money to fight pancreatic cancer since losing her husband, Pete, the disease two years ago.,

"It's all about awareness of the symptoms," said Mrs Francis. "You need to know the symptoms so you can get the operation early enough to survive."

This comes as the Office for National Statistics released information that the five-year survival from pancreatic cancer is just five percent.

By lighting the Almonry, which will join world famous spots such as Niagara Falls as it's turned purple, the hope is people will think about the symptoms, which are primarily pain in the stomach or back, jaundice and weight loss.

Tonia Collett, manager of the Almonry Museum, said she was happy to support Mrs Francis and her campaign.

"I had heard about the campaign through Twitter, so I was aware of her reasons for doing it," she said.

"Pancreatic cancer is quite an over-looked cancer as they go and one of the more difficult to treat. So I thought this was a lovely way to raise awareness.

"As with all things it's about spotting the signs early and if it saves one person that would be fantastic."