WORLD Cup winning football legend George Cohen launched a bowel cancer awareness campaign in Redbridge on Monday (April 11).

The Bowel Cancer: Know the Signs campaign will aim to raise awareness of the second-most common disease in Britain, as knowledge of the illness is poor, according to local research.

A survey conducted by NHS Redbridge reveals that less than one in ten people know a change in bowel habit could be a symptom of bowel cancer.

“Having survived bowel cancer I realise the importance of knowing the signs and not being embarrassed to talk about them with the GP,” said Mr Cohen.

“Bowel cancer killed my team mate Bobby Moore at 51 years of age – a tragedy that may have been avoided if there had been greater awareness across society about the disease.”

The campaign will run until July 2011 and will target people over 50 years old to make them aware of the dangers.