High price of chasing a tan

Anna West's delicate features and English rose complexion were an attractive combination.

But every summer, along with millions of other Britons, she spent hours exposing her fair skin to the sun in order to attain a deep golden tan.

When she was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 21, the English graduate dedicated the final months before her death to raising awareness of the dangers of striving for the "perfect tan".

Today, her father John West, from Chandler's Ford, near Southampton, said lack of information was leading thousands of people continuing to die from the disease every year.

The 51-year-old solicitor, said: "I am not surprised so many more people are dying here compared to Australia. In recent years, Australia has tackled the issue and taken firm steps to make sure people cover up in the sun.

"In this country, people are still more concerned with getting a tan than being careful about staying alive."

In one of the last interviews before her death two years ago, Anna urged others to avoid making the same fatal mistake by limiting tanning times and using high-factor sunscreen.

She said: "I never thought the price of getting a tan would be so high."