Around 10 lives are saved from lung cancer every day in Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

This is according to Cancer Research UK, which has highlighted the progress made in research and treatment.

Since the 1970s, around 61,600 deaths have been avoided in the region due to advancements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The charity's scientists have been instrumental in these advances, with more than 80 per cent of UK lung cancer patients receiving at least one drug developed with the charity's help.

Over the past decade, it has invested more than £231 million into lung cancer research.

Despite this progress, the charity is calling for more action to be taken to save even more lives from this "hard-to-treat cancer".

Paula Young, the charity's spokesperson for Worcestershire, said: "From uncovering the causes of lung cancer to pioneering drugs to treat it and campaigning for change, the figures show we’re powering progress for people affected by lung cancer in the region and across the UK.

"But there’s so much more to do."

The charity is urging the government to implement legislation to increase the age of sale for tobacco products and provide sustainable funding for stop-smoking support.

Ms Young said: "The recently tabled Tobacco and Vapes Bill puts us on the path to helping to end lung cancers caused by smoking in the UK.

"People across the region can get involved by emailing their MP to vote in favour of this historic legislation that will help create a future free from the harms of tobacco."

Despite the progress made, lung cancer survival rates remain lower than most other cancer types, with only one in 10 people surviving for 10 years or more.

This is partly due to the fact that lung cancer symptoms are often mistaken for less serious conditions, leading to late diagnoses.

The charity is backing research into novel ways of diagnosing cancer early to improve survival rates.

Ms Young added: "We want to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer – no matter who they are or where they’re from."