PRIZE-WINNING writer Blake Morrison, whose best known work is an account of his father's death from cancer, has backed the Evening Advertiser's campaign in aid of Macmillan nurses.

Mr Morrison spoke to the Advertiser after his appearance at the Swindon Festival of Literature, and fully supported the appeal.

His book And When Did You Last See Your Father?, written in 1993, has sold thousands of copies, and also won the JR Ackerley Prize as well as the Waterstone's Non Fiction Book Award.

His father, a doctor, died just a month after being diagnosed as having stomach cancer at the age of 75, although he had suffered many distressing symptoms before that diagnosis.

Blake said: "Cancer remains such a huge killer, and people like Macmillan nurses help people come to terms with it, which is so important.

"I had some therapy after my father died, but just facing bereavement is very shocking.

"If you have got somebody who understands what you are going through when someone close is taken ill with cancer, it makes all the difference.

"My father was very healthy, he led an active life, and if it had not been for cancer he probably could have lived for another 15 years."

The Swindon Cancer Appeal aims to raise £600,000 in three years to provide two Macmillan nurses and a cancer care consultant at the Great Western Hospital.

The consultant will also work at the Prospect Hospice in Wroughton.

Graziella Campisano, appeal manager at Macmillan's Swindon branch, said: "It's great to see high profile people like Blake Morrison supporting the appeal.

"It just shows that everybody holds Macmillan nurses close to their hearts.

"Blake raised awareness of cancer by sharing his experiences with others."

Agony aunt Claire Rayner, who survived breast cancer, also backed the appeal following her appearance at the literature festival.

To make a donation online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.