CANCER sufferers are being helped to face the world again thanks to a Bromsgrove company.

Wills Wigs, which is based at the Holt Studios in Birmingham Road, specialise in helping patients who have suffered hairloss through chemotherapy or because of the hairloss condition alopecia.

Patients from the nearby Alexandra Hospital in Redditch are put in touch with the company, which was formed 25 years ago.

Over the last 12 months, 145 patients from the hospital's orthotic department have been referred to Wills Wigs. More than half of them were undergoing chemotherapy.

The wigs are mostly made of acrylic and supplied from Germany, the USA and England.

Staff at the hospital were first made aware of Wills Wigs by to a patient who used the service. Before then patients had to travel to Birmingham or Banbury.

John Newson, from Wills Wigs, said: "We change peoples lives and are a big part of people getting over an illness."

A qualified member of staff sees patients in a private and welcoming room and advises on their choice. People can also be seen as an in-patient at the hospital if necessary.

All wigs for chemotherapy patients are provided free as part of their treatment through the NHS, with alopecia patients paying a NHS prescription charge.

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The trust works well with Wills Wigs, who are providing a good local service.

"We have received a lot of good feedback on the service provided, where patients have been given helpful advice at a time when they are feeling very vulnerable."