A Battersea man is raising awareness of brain tumours after his friend’s father died aged 56.

Paul Bristow, of Lavender Sweep, Battersea, was among numerous patients, families, carers and scientists who gathered for the launch of a new research centre at Queen Mary University of London, on Thursday, October 23.

He was remembering the father of his close friend Peter, who was 56 when he began to experience speech difficulties and had a brain tumour diagnosed.  He died less than eight weeks later.

Mr Bristow, a political lobbyist for the Brain Tumour Research campaign, said: "One in 50 people who die under the age of 60 years are dying from brain tumours. This is a shocking statistic, as is the fact that research in this area is woefully underfunded receiving just 1 per cent of national cancer research spending.

"This is why I am so passionate about gaining as much support as possible from MPs and government for greater funding and awareness."

For more information visit braintumourresearch.org.